§ Mr. WalterTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the installed capacity and location of wind turbines granted planning permission was in(a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland in each year since 1990; how many wind farms were awaiting planning permission at 31 March; and what the generating capacity is in each case. [168830]
§ Keith HillApart from Northern Ireland, where all applications are dealt with centrally, Government do not hold records of proposals for on-shore wind farms below 50 megawatts (MW) as these fall to be determined by the local planning authority under the normal planning regime. However, proposals to construct and operate generating stations with a capacity greater than 50 MW in England and Wales require my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry's consent under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989. This information is also collated by the devolved Administrations in Scotland. For all such applications, the information requested is in the tables.
Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989—applications approved
There have been no applications approved in England.
1337W
English and Scottish S 36 Applications submitted 2003 Date of application Project title/type Location, including grid ref (Easting and Northing) if available Maximum output 21 January 2003 (N/A) Crystal Rig Windfarm Extension Scottish Borders Council E 372 847 N 660 603 62.5 MW 9 May 2003 (N/A) Greenock Windfarm Inverclyde Council 59 MW 14 May 2003 (N/A) Paul's Hill Extension Moray Council E 311 050 N 840 050 77 MW (additional 21 MW) 18 June 2003 (12 July 2002) Gordonbush Windfarm Highland Council NC 2860 9150 100 MW 4 July 2003 Scout Moor Lancashire Approximately 65 MW 11 July 2003 (15 August 2002) Clashindarroch Windfarm Aberdeenshire Council E 348 500 N 831 500 129 MW 29 September 2003 Whinash Tebay, Cumbria 67.5 MW 24 October 2003 Keadby North Lincolnshire 78 MW 27 October 2003 (15 August 2002) Aultmore Windfarm Moray Council E 345 000 N 860 000 62 MW 5 December 2003 (N/A) Kilpatrick Hills Windfarm West Dunbartonshire 60 MW
English and Scottish S 36 Applications submitted 2004 Date of application Project title/type Location, Including grid ref (Easting and Northing) if available Maximum output 5 January 2004 Tween Bridge Thorne Approximately 84 MW 9 January 2004 (6 August 2003) Abercairny Windfarm Perth and Kinross Councl NN 890 270 66 MW 16 February 2004 (7 August 2003) Calliacher Windfarm Perth and Kinross Council E 285 000 N 750 000 93 MW 15 March 2004 Causeymire Wind Farm Highland Council 55.2 MW (7 March 2003) Harestanes Windfarm Dumfries and Galloway E 301 (00 N 595 000 282 MW (24 April 2003) Lochelbank Windfarm Perth and Kinross Council E 311, 40 N 713 477 51 MW (31 July 2003) Ewehill Windfarm Dumfries and Galloway E 265 01) N 600 500 80 MW
For Northern Ireland All applications approved Location Generating capacity Approved Slieve Rushen 5MW 1992 Corkey 5MW 1994 Rigged Hill 5MW 1994 Eliot's Hill 5MW 1994 Bessy Bell 5MW 1994 Owenreagh 5MW 1996 Lendrum's Bridge, Fivemiletown 13.2 MW 2002 Altahullion, Londonderry 26 MW 2002 Lough Hill 12.25 MW 2003 Tappaghan, Co. Fermanagh 19.5 MW 2004 Callagheen 22.75 MW 2004
All applications submitted as at 31 March 2004 Location Generating capacity Dunloy 16 MW Beltany 11.7 MW Rosslea 17.5 MW Clogher 30 MW Binnawoods 9 MW
§ Janet AndersonTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what guidance he issues on the minimum acceptable distance between sizes of proposed windfarms and the nearest dwelling. [169489]
§ Keith HillParagraph 47 of the annex on Wind Energy in Policy Planning Guidance Note 22 (PPG22) contains guidelines about turbine separation distances from residential dwellings, specifically in relation to noise. This matter was also covered in paragraph 18 of our revision to PPG22, which was issued as a draft for consultation last November.
1338W
§ Janet AndersonTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to(a) amend and (b) relax the planning guidance in respect of planning permission for windfarms. [169490]
§ Keith HillThe Government's proposals for amending the current planning policy guidance note 22: renewable energy (PPG22) were set out in draft Planning Policy Statement 22 (PPS22) published for public consultation on 5 November 2003. This document covered the handling of all types of renewable energy projects through the planning system. Copies have been made available in the Libraries of the House. The consultation period ended on 30 January. The final version of PPS22 will be published later this year following careful consideration of the consultation responses received.