Wilson sets out wind farm vision

All wind farm proposals will be considered on a case by case basis, Environment Minister Sammy Wilson insisted today.

During a tour of the Antrim Area Hospital turbine and the Wolf Bog wind farm near Doagh, the Minister told representatives of the wind industry he intended to bring forward the new planning policy governing renewable energy and the supplementary planning guidance to the Assembly before the summer recess.

Mr Wilson declared: “The wind industry has identified the economic benefits to the local economy from wind farm developments. Only recently I made a statement to the Assembly giving clarity about how planners should deal with economic considerations around major planning applications.

“However, environmental and social impacts have also to be taken into account.”

The Minister acknowledged concerns in some communities about potential noise pollution from wind turbines.

However he added: “PPS 18 encourages renewable energy facilities in appropriate locations and takes account of issues like noise. The issue of turbine height is addressed in the strategic supplementary planning guidance ‘Wind Energy Development in Northern Ireland’s Landscapes’.

“I would also like to make it clear all wind energy proposals will be considered on a case by case basis. In determining planning applications, the Planning Policy Statement (PPS) and the Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) will be taken into account alongside all other relevant matters.

“Subject to Assembly clearance, I intend to publish both PPS18 and the SPG in final form before the summer recess.”

Notes Tto Editors:

1. Wolf Bog wind farm is located near Tildarg, Doagh, Co. Antrim. It received planning approval in September 2005 and was commissioned in late 2007. The site comprises five large ‘Vestas’ V80 turbines each with a rotor diameter of 80 metres and a tower height of 60 metres. The height to blade tip is 100 metres. Each turbine has a rating of 2MW, giving a maximum rating of 10 MW. Wolf Bog wind farm is effectively an extension to Elliott’s Hill wind farm. Constructed in 1995, Elliott’s Hill comprises ten 500KW ‘Vestas’ V39 turbines. Each turbine has a rotor diameter of 39 metres while the total height to blade tip is 58.5 metres. A proposal for a further four turbines at the nearby Drumadarragh Hill is currently being assessed by Planning Service.

2. The turbine at Antrim Area Hospital is a 40.7 metre high 660KW ‘Vestas’ V47 and is the largest at any hospital site in the UK. The turbine has 47 metre diameter blades, giving an overall height of approximately 64 metres. Operational since February 2005, it is capable of generating an average of 1.2million units of electricity per annum that can potentially provide enough electricity for the hospital during the night and two thirds of the power required during the day.

3. Planning approvals for wind farms totalling approximately 300 turbines, exceed the current DETI target of 12% of energy consumption from renewable sources by 2012.

4. Planning Policy Statement 18 ‘Renewable Energy’ (PPS18) was published in draft form for a period of four month's public consultation, ending March 2008. A total of 90 responses were received to the public consultation exercise. The publication Wind Energy Development in Northern Ireland’s Landscapes provides supplementary planning guidance (SPG) to PPS18 and was published in draft form for a period of four months public consultation, ending June 2008. A total of 30 responses were received.

5. PPS 18 ‘Renewable Energy’ sets out the Department’s planning policy for renewable energy development. The PPS and its complementary SPG aim to encourage the provision of and facilitate the siting of renewable energy and heat generating facilities in appropriate locations within the built and natural environment.

6. There is a further 53 wind farms planning applications in the system that propose an additional 421 turbines. If approved, together with existing permissions, the SDS 2025 renewable energy target would be exceeded by wind energy alone.

7. Draft PPS18 and the SPG can be accessed at the Planning Service website

8. For media enquiries contact DOE Press Office 028 9054 0003 or out-of-hours call the EIS Duty Press Officer on 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned