wind power: planning to deliver in England

Peter Ellis Planning Directorate Communities and Local Government

Content……

 where we’ve got to…. in England  what we’re doing already: - offshore - onshore  an extra thought floated in consultation on Renewable Energy Strategy….

 one or two issues along the road to social acceptance…..

Where England’s placed in UK……

MW 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0 Operational onshore Operational offshore England N/Ireland Scotland Wales SOURCE: BWEA October 2008

Where England’s placed in UK……

3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0 u/c consents planning SOURCE: BWEA October 2008 Offshore MW England N/Ireland Scotland Wales

Where England’s placed in UK……

4000 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0 u/c consents planning SOURCE: BWEA October 2008 Onshore MW England N/Ireland Scotland Wales

3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0 Onshore MW

Where we’ve got to in England……

Operational Under construction Consented In planning Offshore MW SOURCE: BWEA October 2008

1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0 Onshore MW

Where we’ve got to in England……

Offshore MW In planning SOURCE: BWEA October 2008

Offshore……

 Government announced December 2007 proposals for a major expansion of offshore wind in UK waters  DECC currently undertaking SEA to assess the feasibility of proposals for a further 25 GW of offshore wind - expected to conclude in spring 2009  in parallel with SEA Crown Estate opened the Round 3 leasing programme  key non-financial constraints are: - shortages in supply chain - length of time to attain development consents - timely access to electricity networks - compliance with the EU Birds and Habitats Directives - growth in shipping and development of new ports

What we’re doing already….

 setting up an independent Infrastructure Planning Commission to take planning decisions on nationally significant infrastructure projects (onshore projects over 50 MW and offshore projects over 100 MW) using streamlined inquiry procedures and subject to statutory timetables  new NPS on renewables - apply directly to the IPC’s decisions  new guidance on best practice in preparing and consulting on applications to be made to IPC

What we’re doing already….

 in the Marine Bill Government seeking implementation of measures including a system of marine spatial planning, based on a UK-wide Marine Policy Statement  Marine Policy Statement, and marine plans produced under it, will have a binding impact on development consenting decisions  Marine Bill will also establish a new Marine Management Organisation for England: - clearly defined responsibility for decision-making for marine renewable energy installations of 100 MW and under - will significantly increase capability to integrate marine activities effectively, including shipping, defence, renewable energy generation and environmental protection

What we’re doing already….

Further action may also be appropriate, eg:  availability of comprehensive data / info to inform site selection: - DfT to ensure dataset of current shipping patterns and predications for growth is made available - areas of safe anchorage, areas of embarkation and so on  enhanced marine traffic management: - using Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) as a basis for vessel management solutions or mitigation measures - could look also at establishing ship routeing traffic separation schemes, developing potential new technology such as marine electronic highways  effective advice from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s Navigational Safety Branch throughout the site selection and consenting process

What we’re doing already….

On good practice in delivering environmental legislation:  stimulating discussion on best practice and better regulation: - Offshore Renewables Research Advisory Group - Offshore Renewable Energy and Environmental Forum - Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Steering Groups  funding advisory bodies: - sufficient resource to assist in research projects, and develop better guidance, together with consents and monitoring advice  improving quality of applications: - developers to ensure proposals are environmentally responsible and comply with environmental protection legislation  streamlining planning processes: - through eg access to pre-published environmental data

What we’re doing already….

On aviation and radar:  Aviation Plan: -mitigate the effects of wind power on radar and work required for workable solutions - short-term improvements to planning application process and introduction of a web-based screening tool for pre-applications  Memorandum of Understanding between BERR, MoD, DfT, CAA, NATS and BWEA commits all parties to the implementation of Plan  MoD has procured and will be installing a T102 Air Defence radar along the east coast - further upgrades to radar, once solutions have been developed, would be funded by the developers

800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 S36 TCPA

Where we’ve got to in England……

Onshore MW in planning in England SOURCE: RESTATS September 2008

Why we’re looking at TCPA……

Because:  planning is key to getting renewable energy infrastructure built in time for 2020  timely and predictable decision-making is critical  if risk to development is too big, investment stops flowing  won’t make the switch to renewables in timescale required without the right response from the planning system  each and every decision is going to count

Why we’re looking at TCPA……

Because:  planning is where we ask economic, environmental and social objectives to be integrated  planning is where potential conflicts between interests of individuals, or local communities, and needs of the nation are reconciled  reasons for delay when it occurs are complex, some proposals:  highly controversial within local communities concerned  inadequately prepared before being submitted  affected by matters outside planning’s influence

Building from what we’re doing already….

 new NPS on renewables - apply directly to the IPC’s decisions and applicable more widely to regional and local plan-making and to decisions taken by LPAs

Building from what we’re doing already….

What we want from planning….

“an attractive environment for innovation and for the private sector to bring forward investment, including in renewable and low-carbon technologies and supporting infrastructure”

Building from what we’re doing already….

What we want from planning….

“new development planned to make good use of opportunities for decentralised and renewable or low carbon energy” From Greenpeace

Building from what we’re doing already….

What we want from planning….

“..capture local enthusiasm and give local communities real opportunities to influence and take action on climate change”

Building from what we’re doing already….

What’s expected of regional planners :  “set regional targets for renewable energy generation in line with PPS22, and ensure their ambition fully reflects opportunities in the region, are consistent with the Government’s national targets and, where appropriate in the light of delivery, are periodically revised upwards”  monitoring against targets reported in AMRs produced regionally and locally

Building from what we’re doing already….

What’s expected of local councils:  actively support, renewable energy including by allocating and safeguarding sites  applicants for renewable energy not to be questioned about energy need for project, in general or in particular locations  policies designed to promote and not restrict renewable energy  ensure local approach to protecting landscape and townscape consistent with PPS22 and doesn’t preclude supply of any type of renewable energy other than in most exceptional circumstances

Building from what we’re doing already….

 SAF and accompanying clarity on information required to support planning applications  Planning Performance Agreements, to give applicants more certainty about timescale and requirements for processing complex applications  new fees regime  boosting microgeneration & freeing up resources through PDR reforms  climate change duty on local plan making

Improving delivery through planning…?

Locally-owned renewables delivery strategy?

 RSS targets and monitoring to form a consistent delivery mechanism as per delivery management which is central part of planning for housing?

 disaggregating regional targets to local authority areas - could help in providing benchmarks for the preparation and monitoring of LDDs, and in implementation?

 incentives to encourage renewable energy developments:  renewables growth points?  package of community benefits?

Improving social acceptance…?

“We have already implemented three of the six recommendations made by the Renewables Advisory Board. In particular we have: developed a national good practice ‘toolkit’ on community benefits for developers, planners and community groups; - established new good practice guidance on how to liaise effectively with local communities during the project development process, and in particular how to explore and negotiate community benefits with key stakeholders; - researched, in collaboration with the finance sector, ways in which to establish reliable and ‘bank-approved’ models for the commercial and financial structure for projects, which enable local community ownership.”

Improving social acceptance…?

In signing up to the Protocol,

Wind Energy Developers agree to: ….

Local Authorities agree to: …..

Statutory consultees agree to: … In order for these responsibilities to be fully met within individual project developments, other key stakeholders (such as parish councils, councils for voluntary service, energy agencies, other community and public interest groups) agree to: ……