Renew On Line (UK) 27

Extracts from the July-Aug 2000 edition of Renew
These extracts only represent about 25% of it

6. DETR’s STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR RENEWABLES

The Government is adopting a strategic approach to planning for renewable energy development. Outlining the new approach Planning Minister Nick Raynsford commented, "a positive, strategic approach to planning for renewable energy is essential to help to deliver the Government's targets and goals for renewable energy and climate change, which are central to achieving sustainable development, whilst continuing to protect the landscape." This was underlined in the DTI’s recent Conclusions in Response to the Public Consultation.

Given the continuing problems with objections to wind farms, there is certainly a need for improved planning arrangements and procedures, and a strategic approach may help, by identifying targets to help local planners to set specific projects in context. The government has decided that this target setting process should be ‘bottom-up’ rather than ‘top-down’. As the Minister put it "in order to promote this strategic approach from the regional level downwards, the Government Offices for the Regions are initiating work to prepare regional assessments and targets for renewable energy provision based upon - and, where necessary, updating - existing resource studies."

The DETR has already published ‘Guidance on Preparing Regional Sustainable Development Frameworks’, which indicates that the Government hopes that the frameworks will draw upon this work and elaborate a regional approach to renewable energy, including regional targets which flow from the assessments of each region's capacity to generate electricity from a range of different sources. The Government wants to see frameworks in place in all regions by the end of 2000.

The Minister added "The frameworks will work alongside Regional Planning Guidance (RPG) and Regional Development Agencies' Economic Strategies in promoting sustainable development. Thus we envisage RPG taking forward in land-use terms a region's strategy for delivering renewable energy targets by defining broad locations for renewable energy development and setting criteria to help local authorities select suitable sites in their plans. We would encourage regional planning bodies to set targets in RPG, where sensible to do so, for the structure plan and unitary development plan areas within the region consistent with the regional targets provided by the regional sustainable development frameworks. Advice on this will be set out in the final version of the revised Planning Policy Guidance (PPG) note 11: Regional Planning."

He concluded "Together with the national planning policy guidance in PPG 22: Renewable Energy, RPG - as taken forward through structure plans and Part I unitary development plans - will provide a strategic framework for policies and proposals for renewable energy development in local plans, including the identification in those plans of suitable sites. This, in turn, will feed through to decisions on individual planning applications. More positive planning at regional and local levels will contribute to greater public familiarity with, and acceptance of, prospective renewable energy developments. It remains important, however, for operators to prepare the ground with local authorities, environmental organisations and local people before formal planning applications are submitted and to develop proposals in consultation with them."

Public Enquiries Unit:0171 890 3333; E-mail: press@detr.gov.uk   DETR website: http://www.detr.gov.uk