Archived press release

Planning guidance must favour wind farms says friends of the earth

19 June 2004

Planning policy must be altered to encourage the development of renewable energy, including wind power, to help combat climate change Friends of the Earth said today.

In its submission to the Government's consultation on PPS22 [1], the national planning policy statement on renewable energy, Friends of the Earth says that there must be a presumption in favour of renewable energy sources, such as wind, wave and solar power. This would mean that planning authorities could only reject applications in exceptional circumstances. The environmental campaign group said that wind farms should not be given the go-ahead if they risk damaging important wildlife sites and protected areas such as National Parks.

There is a considerable discrepancy between planning approval rates for wind farm developments between countries in the UK and within England. This is undermining the Government's target for producing 10 per cent of our electricity from renewables by 2010, and creates uncertainty for developers.

According to the British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) [2] in the past five years England has had an average approval rate (measured by megawatt [MW] capacity) at local level of just 50 per cent compared to 90 per cent in Scotland. This is due to strong policy guidance in Scotland and the support of the Scottish Executive which recognizes the benefits of renewable energy [3].

A BWEA study (1999-2003) of the English counties where most applications have been made shows that Devon, Lancashire and Northumberland turned down every application. Most of the other counties had approval ratings of between 50 and 80 per cent.

Friends of the Earth's Energy Campaigner, Bryony Worthington said:

"There is a considerable inconsistency in wind farm approvals throughout the UK. This is undermining Government efforts to achieve its aim of producing 10 per cent of our electricity from renewable energy by 2010. The Government must make it clear though its planning guidance the importance of meeting these targets".

"Climate change is the biggest environmental threat the planet faces. Clean, renewable energy has a crucial role to play. The Government must do more to encourage its development by changing the planning rules in favour of renewables such as wind, wave and solar power. National Parks should continue to be protected, but unless we start to appreciate the crisis we face and develop this technology on the scale required, the lives and livelihoods of millions of people for generations to come will be severely threatened."

Last year the UK's emissions of carbon dioxide (the main greenhouse gas), was 1.5 per cent higher than 2002 - despite Government promises to cut emissions.

Notes

1. PPS22 (Planning Policy Statement 22: renewable energy) is governed by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. Responses to a draft PPS 22 is currently being considered and is due to be adopted next month. This guidance will set the planning framework for renewables for the next 10 years.

2. www.bwea.com/planning/PPS22BriefingSheet.pdf (PDF† format)

3. The local approval rate for wind farms 1999-2003 (MW capacity) was Wales 40 per cent, Northern Ireland 75 per cent.

†To view PDF files you will need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader. Visually impaired users can get extra help with these documents from access.adobe.com.

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust