ESRC WIND POWER SEMINAR, BELFAST

ROSEMARY THOMAS

HEAD OF PLANNING DIVISION

WELSH ASSEMBLY GOVERNMENT

4th November 2008

CONTENT

• Policy Framework and Welsh Approach to Planning for onshore wind

• Current Situation

• Community Involvement and Benefit

• The Way Forward

POLICY FRAMEWORK FOR WELSH APPROACH

Energy Policy - focus on delivery of UK Government policy as

energy a “reserved matter”

Energy Generating Applications

UK Government determines:

on-shore 50MW +

off-shore 1MW + within territorial waters

50 MW + outside territorial waters

Welsh Assembly Government and its agencies determines:

on-shore below 50MW

THE WELSH APPROACH TO PLANNING FOR ONSHORE WIND

Renewable Energy Targets established Feb. 2003:

4TWh by 2010 7TWh by 2020

Recognised onshore wind offers the greatest potential to achieve the targets in the short term

Commitment to develop land use policy to help deliver targets

Underpinned by empirical research

Aim by 2010 for 1,000MW addition RE capacity of which:

800 on shore wind generation

200 off shore wind and other RE technologies

THE WELSH APPROACH TO PLANNING FOR ONSHORE WIND

July 2005 published final: Technical Advice Note 8 Planning

for Renewable Energy

Underpinned by empirical research

Identifies the least constrained areas of upland Wales with the most capacity for onshore wind developments

7 Strategic Search Areas with an indicative target of 800MW of installed capacity by 2010

CURRENT SITUATION

WAG established Monitoring system for TAN 8

Based on annual returns from local planning authorities

Latest data relates to April 2008 in MWSSA Application

lodgedConsented Under

ConstructionOperational Operational

Pre 2005Refused Refused

Appeal lodged

Total

A 23 64.5 21.25 58 166.75B 115.6 63.35 178.95C 312 312D 0E 116.8 39 4 159.8F 104 10.4 21 12 147.4G 30 30Outside SSA 31.3 15.65 11.7 5.35 183.15 0.5 23.9 271.55Total 732.7 129.55 11.7 47.6 246.5 74.5 23.9 1266.45

POLICY OUTSIDE SSAs

• Windfarms up to 25MW encouraged on urban/brownfield

sites

• smaller, community based windfarms (less than 5MW)

encouraged

• single turbines maybe suitable

• relaxation of permitted development framework underway

COMMUNITY BENEFITS

• Policy supports provision of Community Benefits for the host

communities

• Any proposed benefits must not influence the decision on

whether or not to grant planning consent

• TAN 8 provides details of the types of benefits that could be

sought

COMMUNITY BENEFITS CEFN CROES

39 turbines generating 58.8MW developed by Cambrian Wind

Energy on Forestry Commission estate

Opened 2005 pre TAN 8

Main Benefits

1. S106 included Land Management Plan and the

establishment of an Environmental Management Committee

COMMUNITY BENEFITS CEFN CROES

2. The developer contributes £10,000 pa for the lifetime of the

wind farm (total £250,000) for site restoration eg

re-wetting of bog habitat and re-seeding of heather

COMMUNITY BENEFITS CEFN CROES

3. Trust Fund established by Deed of Covenant

Developer to pay £1000 per MW per year (i.e. £58,500)

into the Fund- index linked

5 Trustees - the Operator and 2 representatives from the

host Community Councils

Manage the fund and consider applications from the local

community and charitable organisations

SSA IMPLEMENTATION ISSUES

• Resistance by the public to changes in environment

• Technological advances means potentially greater

generating capacity

• Local priorities v implementation of renewable energy policy

• Community benefits - who benefits

• Perception that planning is failing to deliver Planning White

Paper and Planning Bill

THE WAY FORWARD

• Security of energy supply and addressing climate change mean pressure

for renewable energy will increase, not decrease

• Need to manage public resistance to changes in their environment

• Need to recognise tensions between national policy requirements and

local priorities and politics

• Work constructively with, local authorities, communities and statutory

consultees

• Aim for a win/win outcome

• Meanwhile, political commitment to review TAN 8, revising upwards

renewable energy targets. Work likely to commence latter part of 2009,

after Energy Strategy published.