Wind farm plans rules concerns
TEES Valley wind farm developers have echoed John Prescott’s calls for simpler planning rules, as a new commission opens for business.
The former deputy PM blamed nimbyism and landowners’ fears of their ‘chocolate box’ views being spoilt for the UK’s woeful onshore achievements at the British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) annual conference this week.
Yesterday the Infrastructure Planning Commission - created to shine a spotlight on better public consultation and environmental matters - announced it is expecting its first applications.
Among them will be a biomass power station in Blyth, Northumberland, two new nuclear power stations and two national grid connection projects. The new process will place a duty on promoters to consult thoroughly with the public on major projects, while properly addressing environmental concerns.
But Mr Prescott attacked current planning rules for blocking too many wind farm applications, amid evidence that 75% of all UK cases are turned down.
His comments this week struck a chord with Tees Valley developers but they also admitted a balance must be found. London-based Broadview Energy has received approval from Stockton Council for its wind farm in villages of Hilton and Seamer, but will appeal against Hambleton Council’s decision to reject the plans.
MD Jeffrey Corrigan said: “We would welcome a more streamlined process, and I believe local opposition groups would too. But residents have every right to voice their concerns and councils often have very difficult decisions to make.”
Community for Renewable Energy (CoRE), an eco-biased social enterprise company, wants to build a wind farm in Stockton.
MD Ross Weddle said there was bias towards windpower to the detriment of other technologies.
“There’s a very definite need for renewables, but the scale of projects is sometimes out of kilter with the scale the landscape can cope with.”
The North-east is the second worst performing English region for onshore renewables - just 175 megawatts (MW) has been installed to date, against a 2010 target of 454MW.
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