Wind Turbines Planning Permission

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What to do first?

• Find out who your local authority is if you don't already know.
• Check out their website and look for any special wind turbine planning policy.
• Call them, anonymously if you wish, and ask them what their process is and what information they require to give planning permission for wind turbines.
• Speak to your neighbours.  They are your allies if the planning authority has any issues (see separate section on this below).

Who needs planning permission for wind turbines?

Unless your planning authority has a policy on their website or is able to send you a document about their requirements, then assume every wind turbine requires planning permission.

Why you should speak to your neighbours

Put yourself in their shoes, if they did something different to their land which you could see and didn't tell you, how would you feel?

Most neighbours have the same worries about climate change as you do.  You have lots of allies out there who may be active supporters.

Conversely, it is also good to know people's concerns. They could become objections unless you discuss them and try and find a compromise.

Although planning authorities are not allowed to reject your application based purely on neighbours objections, it will help to know if there are any when you apply.

What grounds can planning authorities reject wind turbines

Planning Policy Statement 22, Central Government guidance to planning authorities about micro generation schemes (including wind turbines), states that planners can only object on environmental grounds. This includes Conservation Areas or Areas of Outstanding National Beauty (AONB).

Planners are NOT allowed to object on technical grounds or on wind production projections.

Environmental grounds include subjective things such as serious visual impact, serious noise and physical natural dangers to wildlife.

The BWEA (British Wind Energy Association) have many useful pages on these topics which may be helpful to read. Many wildlife charities including the RSPB have published policy supporting wind turbines in certain areas.

What to do now?

When you have found out about your planning authority's needs for wind turbine planning applications, please contact us and we will be happy to help you take things further.