Speaking today, Thursday, at the annual meeting of the British Wind Energy Association, CPRE’s [1] Chief Executive, Shaun Spiers, will issue a challenge to the wind energy industry to engage with local people and work within the planning system.

Shaun will say:

‘Planning is too often blamed for stopping wind farms.  Of course the planning system does stop some developments - it would not be a very effective system if it did not.  But enough onshore wind farms are receiving planning permission to meet the UK’s 2020 target for renewable energy four years early. [2]
 
‘Rather than attacking the planning system, wind farm developers should recognise that there are genuine conflicts between different environmental ‘goods’.  Climate change is the major environmental issue of our time and CPRE recognises the need to develop more renewable energy, including onshore wind farms [3].  But climate change is not the only environmental issue.

‘People are concerned about the impact of new energy developments on tranquillity, landscape, wildlife and the quality of their lives.  They have every right to campaign to protect the places they love and we should be glad that they do.  And nobody should be surprised if people fighting to protect the environment are suspicious of developers - particularly developers erecting giant industrial structures in the countryside. 

‘But suspicion of the industry would be reduced if it recognised that there are genuine conflicts between different environmental ‘goods’, and if it engaged with opponents of wind farms, instead of just dismissing them as Nimbys.

‘The planning system exists to ensure that issues are properly debated and that decisions are taken in the public interest, rather than any sectional interest. 

‘An effective, democratic planning system is essential if we are to get public consent for the changes that are necessary to tackle climate change.  Legitimate concerns about landscape and natural beauty must be heard. So stop knocking planning!’ 

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NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. CPRE, the Campaign to Protect Rural England, is a charity which campaigns for a beautiful and living countryside.  Founded in 1926, we have over 60,000 supporters and a branch in every county.  Our President is Bill Bryson, our Patron is Her Majesty The Queen.  More information on CPRE can be found at www.cpre.org.uk.   
2.  “Enough onshore wind farms are receiving planning permission each year to meet the technology’s share of the UK’s 2020 renewable energy targets four years early” (ENDS Report, August 2009).  Moreover, a third of the onshore and offshore wind energy needed to meet the 2020 targets is being held up because of radar issues.  This has nothing to do with planning.  Indeed, almost half the schemes on hold – 15% of the portion of the 2020 targets projected to be supplied by wind – already have planning permission.  (See Ed Miliband’s speech to the BWEA Conference, 20 October 2009.)

3. CPRE launched 2026 - A Vision for the Countryside in May.  This sets out a positive and optimistic vision for the English countryside in 2026, the charity’s centenary year. The Vision’s key issues include affordable rural housing; urban regeneration; Green Belts; better planning; green energy; local food and farming; light pollution and valuing the countryside as a national asset.  It makes clear that climate change is a major problem and that the countryside has an important role to play in addressing it.  For further information on CPRE’s vision, go to www.cpre.org.uk/campaigns/environment/2026-a-vision-for-the-countryside.