§ Mr. BellinghamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what.is his policy in relation to development proposals for wind farms and other kinds of renewable energy installations.
§ Sir George YoungThe Government's policy on renewable energy is set out in the reply given today by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy to my hon. Friend the Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Mr. Evans).
Local planning authorities should keep in mind the Government's policy on renewable sources of energy when preparing their development plans and in considering development proposals for renewable energy installations. In general, the planning system operates on the principle that planning permission should be granted unless the development proposal would cause demonstrable harm to interests of acknowledged importance; and those who decide planning applications and appeals must give clear and well-founded reasons for refusing permission. Within this framework, authorities should pay attention to the desirability of energy sources which do not result in emissions of gases harmful to the environment such as carbon dioxide; such sources of energy should be harnessed wherever practicable. Equally, authorities should pay attention to the need to protect the local environment from damage and any loss of amenity which 542W renewable energy installations may cause. Such loss of amenity may include any noise or smell likely to arise from the installations, and their visual impact on the countryside.
The Departments of Energy and of the Environment and the Welsh Office are preparing planning policy guidance about this for local authorities. I hope that a draft of such guidance will be ready to issue for public