§ Mr. SpellerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish planning guidelines for local authorities dealing with wind energy planning applications; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. YeoPreliminary guidance about this was given in a written answer by my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning on 28 March at col.543. It advised local planning authorities to pay attention to the desirability of energy sources which do not emit harmful gases and to the need to protect the local environment from damage and loss of amenity.
Officials in my Department, the Department of Energy and the Welsh Office are preparing a draft planning policy guidance note about renewable energy which we hope to issue for public consultation later this month.