AGENDA ITEM NO. 22
REPORT TO:
Executive Board
REPORT NO.
CPLO/74/04
DATE:
19 October 2004
REPORTING OFFICER:
Chief Planning Officer
CONTACT OFFICER:
Shan Wyn Jones (Ext 2478)
SUBJECT:
Consultations on:
(i)
draft Ministerial Interim Planning
Policy Statement on Renewable
Energy
(ii)
draft Technical Advice Note 8:
Renewable Energy
WARD:
All
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PURPOSE OF THE REPORT
To agree a reply to the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) on its draft
Ministerial Interim Planning Policy Statement (MIPPS) on renewable energy
and draft Technical Advice Note (TAN) 8: Renewable Energy
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INFORMATION
2.1
Policy Framework
2.1.1 Community Strategy
One of the 6 strategic priorities is:
‘A place that cares for the Environment’, the aim of which is ‘To protect and
enhance our environment for future generations.’
Out of the 6 key objectives linked to this aim are:

‘To make careful use of resources with minimal amounts of waste and
as little pollution as possible.

To ensure the natural environment supports the largest possible range of
native animals and plants, and it is supported by sustainable agricultural
and forestry land use.

To encourage people to respect and enjoy their local environment and it’s
biodiversity.’
2.1.2
Unitary Development Plan
Policy PS12, ‘Renewable Energy’, states: ‘Proposals for the generation of
energy from renewable sources will be supported provided that the wider
environmental benefits are not outweighed by any detrimental impacts of the
proposed development (including any electricity transmission facilities
needed) on the landscape, public safety, and the local environment.’
Policy EC5, ‘Special Landscape Areas’, states: ‘ Within Special Landscape
Areas, priority will be given to the conservation and enhancement of the
landscape. Development, other than for agriculture, small-scale farm-based
and other rural enterprises, and essential operational development by utility
service providers, will be strictly controlled. Development will be required to
conform to a high standard of design and landscaping, and special attention
will be paid to minimising its visual impact both from nearby and distant
viewpoints.’
2.2
Budget
The advice requires Local Planning Authorities to undertake assessments of
the appropriate renewable energy technologies for their area.
2.3
Consultation
Copies of the consultation documents have been placed in the Members
Library.
2.4
Further information
The consultation documents outline what local planning authorities should
have regard to when preparing planning policy and taking planning decisions.
Wind power has been identified as a priority for renewable energy source.
WAG proposes giving less weight to matters relating to existing, important
local landscape and biodiversity designations, together with community views
when considering renewable energy developments.
WAG indicates a three-step approach, focusing heavily on wind power:
(a) In internationally or nationally environmentally protected areas, of which
Wrexham has a small percentage, wind farms or other large-scale
renewable energy schemes will not generally be appropriate.
(b) Strategic Wind Farm areas. The advice identifies seven strategic wind
farm areas for Wales, with one, Denbigh Moors, in North Wales. WAG
advises that these are the most suitable for large-scale developments, but
that their identification does not preclude other areas from being
developed.
(c) Areas outside a and b (above). These exist in Wrexham, with the potential
to involve wind power, and other renewable energy developments. The
level of practical and environmental issues will influence the type and
scale of developments. These areas include ‘white’ areas with neither
physical nor environmental restrictions. Significantly, these exist in the
southern half of the County Borough, where a planning history of wind
energy proposals exists.
WAG considers these areas suitable for smaller, domestic or communitybased wind turbines, with local development plans indicating broad
locations for permitting such schemes, ‘whilst respecting the sensitivity of
the receiving environment.’
The reservations about WAG’s proposed advice are because:

it focuses on opportunities for wind power as opposed to
renewable energy in general;

places too much emphasises in its Strategic wind farm
designations on land in public ownership, and

is incomplete (e.g. the potential for wind power development
within urban and industrial areas is so far, untapped, together
with the opportunities for pumping methane out of coalbeds.)
Significantly, given the remaining timescale for compliance with
international targets (a 6 year period remains to achieve WAG’s 2010
targets), the approach is a ‘quick win’ solution, asserting priority to wind
power from rural areas.
2.5
Issues
The MIPPS is intended to replace part of the existing planning guidance for
Wales, currently Planning Policy Wales (PPW), March 2002, which is
supplemented with Technical Advice Notes, TAN’s. This draft TAN is
intended to replace the existing 1996 TAN version.
Renewable energy is integral to WAG’s sustainable development duties. In
this context, decisions must be made based on sound evidence and likely
long-term effects in terms of their social, economic and environmental
impacts. Lower priority is given to other, and more effective, renewable
energy sources e.g. woodfuel and solar.
In relation to local landscape issues, Members will recall endorsing a recent
report on Wrexham LANDMAP as an information system for taking
landscape into account in decision making. LANDMAP identifies parts of
Wrexham, notably the Ceiriog valley and Bettisfield, with outstanding
qualities. The proposed advice fails to give due weight to these matters.
It is considered that instead of giving priority to wind power, higher priority
should be given to the delivery of a comprehensive and effective WAG
energy programme on:
 grant aid, for householders and commercial properties, for a range of
energy and conservation measures, including various renewable energy
methods.
 strengthening the diversity of renewable energy production;
 greater focus on energy efficiency and conservation;
 avoiding environmental impacts;
 doing everything possible to reduce the overall demand for energy.
The threefold approach to wind power planning summarised in paragraph 24
is different from the advice in England and could lead to difficulties with
proposals which cross the national border.
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RECOMMENDATION
3.1
3.2
3.3
4
Wrexham County Borough Council welcomes the review of
renewable energy planning guidance.
The Council is concerned that the emphasis is on developing wind
power in the short term could be to the detriment of
( i ) existing environmental designations in Wrexham and,
( ii ) the development of other forms of renewable energy
and energy conservation in general.
That the Chief Planning Officer is authorised to submit additional
detailed issues of observation and concern, as appropriate.
REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION
4.1
To ensure that the demand for renewable energy schemes is more
carefully balanced against protecting important environmental areas.
4.2
To promote the need to conserve use of energy as the first priority and a
range of renewable sources (not just focusing on wind farms).
4.3
To facilitate the submission of detailed comments
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BACKGROUND PAPERS
Draft Ministerial Planning Policy Statement on Renewable Energy.
Draft Technical Advice Note 8: Renewable Energy.
Planning Policy Wales: March 2002.
Technical Advice Note (Wales) 8: Renewable Energy, 1996.
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WEBSITE INFORMATION
h/www.wales.gov.uk/subiplanning/content/tans/tan08/mipps-index-e.htm