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ESRC WIND POWER SEMINAR, BELFAST

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.

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ESRC WIND POWER SEMINAR, BELFAST

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  1. ESRC WIND POWER SEMINAR, BELFAST ROSEMARY THOMAS HEAD OF PLANNING DIVISION WELSH ASSEMBLY GOVERNMENT 4th November 2008

  2. CONTENT • Policy Framework and Welsh Approach to Planning • for onshore wind • Current Situation • Community Involvement and Benefit • The Way Forward

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. CURRENT SITUATION WAG established Monitoring system for TAN 8 Based on annual returns from local planning authorities Latest data relates to April 2008 in MW

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. 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

  12. 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

  13. 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.

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