New Wind Turbine Planning Guidance Mirrors Conservative Council’s Position

New planning guidance on wind turbine applications, which would ensure public consultation at the earliest possible stage is good for communities and backs Conservative, controlled Staffordshire County Council’s position, the county’s infrastructure leader has said.

Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet member for economy and infrastructure Mark Winnington welcomed the announcement by the Secretary of State for Local Government and Communities Eric Pickles.

County councillor Winnington said people needed a greater say in decisions affecting them and their area.  He added that the new Government guidance echoed the position approved by the county council’s cabinet last October.

“We are pleased that the Government has formally recognised that wind turbine development must be in appropriate places and not at the detriment of the landscape or where it could blight people’s homes.

“In October last year we set out our position on large scale wind turbine development, namely that it needs to be away from residential areas and not damage the countryside and potentially the local economy.

“Staffordshire has some outstanding landscapes and architectural landmarks which we must protect.  They are an asset to the county and an integral part of our expanding tourism industry.

“Of course, we understand the need for renewable energy sources but they must be in the right locations and have proper assessments and checks carried out during the planning process.  We hope the new guidance will help to refocus significant planning decisions with local people and economy as a priority.”

The county council defines a large-scale wind turbine development as having the following features:

• Any single turbine with a hub height in excess of 50 metres
• Any development of more than two turbines with hub height in excess of 30 metres
• Any development of more than 10 turbines regardless of hub height
• Any development which exports its power to the national electricity grid at 33 kilovolts (kV) rather than to a specific user or the local grid network at 11kV