In January this year the Buchan Area Planning Committee in Aberdeenshire agreed on a 6 point approval policy for wind turbine applications stating:
“there was general support that there should be no limit to the size of turbine that could be considered for permission, in the light of the fact that technology has now moved on and we should be encouraging development by the most efficient means“
The policy itself lists a set of requirements, that if met, will lead to planning consent. In a single stroke this has de-politicised the application process for “sensitive development of wind energy”.
It doesnt mean a total free-for-all though. Instead projects for which an Environmental Statement is not required are assured to pass planning purely on a set of technical requirements ranging from heath and safety to noise.
NIMBY’ism is no longer a consideration!