Energy and Climate Change written question – answered at on 13 September 2010.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will bring forward an energy planning strategy which provides for a determination of (a) the number of wind farms required nationally and (b) the location of such installations in a manner which (i) maximises efficient energy production and (ii) minimises disturbance to the countryside and to village communities.
The Coalition Programme for Government makes clear our commitment to giving a greater say to people, communities and local councils to shape their surroundings through a faster and more democratically accountable planning system. We intend to publish and present to Parliament a simple and consolidated national planning framework covering all forms of development.
My right. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government will make an announcement .on how we propose to take forward the framework and the implications for specific areas of planning policy.
We are committed to being the greenest Government ever and to the development of wind energy in the UK, both onshore and offshore. The UK has outstanding wind resources and onshore wind is one of the most established, widespread and cost effective renewable electricity technologies in the UK. Wind energy will therefore be vital to meeting our renewable energy, climate change and low carbon economic growth goals.
We are keen to ensure that both our commitment to localism and to tackling climate change are mutually supportive. We want communities and individuals to benefit from the increase in renewable energy, including wind power, and to own a stake in our collective low carbon future. This is why we committed to encouraging more community owned renewable energy and allowing communities that host renewable energy projects to keep the additional business rates they generate.
The assessment of an application to develop a wind farm already includes, amongst other things, an analysis of visual and landscape impacts to ascertain whether the location of the wind farm is acceptable. The Government consider that these impacts are best assessed on a case by case basis so that local factors can be taken fully into account.
Yes1 person thinks so
No0 people think not
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