HC Deb 18 October 2001 vol 372 cc1320-1W
Mr. Pickthall

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will take action to limit construction of wind turbines in upland areas close to national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty. [4696]

Ms Keeble

Planning policy guidance for renewable energy projects is set out in Planning Policy Guidance note (PPG) 22: Renewable Energy. This gives guidance to local planning authorities on the siting of renewable energy projects.

We have no proposals to bring in specific planning controls, beyond those of normal development control, to protect the visual amenity of views looking out from National Parks and Areas Of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The guiding principle in countryside planning policies is that development should both benefit economic activity and maintain or enhance the environment. The key aim is to get the right amount of development of the right quality in the right places.