Policy overview
9.152 The Council’s current approach to renewable energy is set out in Policy CP3. Policy SCR4 sets out the Council’s approach to, and support for, Community-Led Projects.
9.153 The policy approach was reviewed through the LPPU to set out a positive approach for determining applications and guiding development to the most suitable locations.
9.154 The revised Policy CP3 sets out the criteria for all stand-alone renewable energy projects, as well as specific criteria for wind energy and ground mounted solar.
9.155 Through the LPPU, the Council has set out a landscape-led approach for wind energy and ground-mounted solar PV to guide development to the best locations which is based on the Landscape Sensitivity Assessment (LSA) for Renewable Energy Development (LUC, 2021).
9.156 It was not possible to review the Core Strategy target for renewable energy generation through the LPPU. This Options Document presents options for how both the target and approach to CP3 could be revised to plan positively for renewable energy while ensuring that adverse impacts are addressed satisfactorily.
National Context
9.157 Paragraph 160 of the NPPF states that the planning system should support renewable and low carbon energy and associated infrastructure. To help increase the use and supply of renewable and low carbon energy and heat, plans should:
- Provide a positive strategy for energy from these sources that maximises the potential for suitable development, while ensuring that adverse impacts are addressed satisfactorily.
- Consider identifying areas suitable for renewable and low carbon energy sources and supporting infrastructure.
- Identify opportunities for development to draw its energy supply from decentralised, renewable or low carbon energy supply systems and for co-locating potential heat customers and suppliers.
9.158 Community-led initiatives for renewable and low carbon energy should also be supported, giving consideration to the role of neighbourhood planning as well as local plans.
9.159 Further detailed guidance on developing policies on renewables and low carbon energy and the planning considerations involved in such schemes is provided in the Planning Practice Guidance (PPG).
Changes since adoption of the LPPU
9.160 Since the adoption of the LPPU there have been changes to national policy issued by the Government in relation to Wind Energy, through the release of 5th September 2023 Written Material Statement (WMS) and subsequent revision to the NPPF.
9.161 Through the WMS the Government is seeking to restart development of onshore wind in England. The NPPF has been revised to allow alternative ways of identifying potential locations for new wind farm developments, rather than solely local development plans. This now includes local and neighbourhood development orders, or community right to build orders.
9.162 There have also been changes to the wording around the test applied in relation to community backing of onshore wind, on which further guidance is expected from the Government on how public support for wind farms will be assessed, and how communities that host wind farms could benefit from lower energy bills.
Policy options
We are suggesting options in our approach to two areas of the policy overview above:
- Proposed targets for renewable energy generation
- Proposed approach to meeting renewable energy targets
Select a link to view these options and give your feedback.
Read the Climate Change topic paper , Natural Environment Topic Paper , Carbon Impact Assessment supporting document and the Renewable Energy Resource Assessment Study (RERAS) for in-depth focus about this topic, and the evidence which informs our policy. Visit our library of Local Plan Options supporting documents to learn more.