To assess proposals for renewable
energy sources against the need to protect and conserve the
environment.
Renewable energy is that which occurs
naturally and repeatedly from sun, wind, waves and falling water.
Geothermal sources, plant growth and waste materials in combustible
or digestible forms are generally regarded as renewable but are not
necessarily sustainable in any single location.
Government policy is to stimulate the exploitation and development
of renewable energy sources wherever they have prospects of being
economically attractive and environmentally acceptable.
In planning for the use of land for electricity generating
installations the general aim is:
- to ensure that society's needs
for energy are satisfied, consistent with protecting the local
and global environment;
- to ensure that any
environmental damage or loss of amenity caused by energy supply
and ancillary activities is minimised; and
- to prevent unnecessary
sterilisation of energy resources.
The geographical position of
Northern Ireland and its terrain offer favourable conditions for the
development of certain renewable technologies. Sites proposed for
projects will often be in rural or coastal areas which the
Government recognises to be not only of intrinsic value but also
major tourist assets. A careful balance will be needed between the
need for renewable resources to contribute to Northern Ireland's
energy supply and the need to conserve the environment and amenities
of local communities. Harm to the environment, caused by renewable
energy projects, must therefore be kept to the minimum.
Wind Energy
The following policies have been prepared to guide the development
of projects to harness wind power. Policies for other forms of
renewable energy projects will be prepared in future.
All proposals for wind turbines or wind farms or groups of wind
turbines (including any associated ancillary development) will be
assessed in respect of their implications for the visual, ecological
and historic landscapes; the implications for agriculture; and the
safety and amenity of local residents. Conditions will be attached to
permissions, as appropriate, to safeguard particular interests.
Permission will not be granted to turbine developments within, or in
any location, where they would have a seriously detrimental impact
on the amenity of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty or any area
designated for its conservation, scientific, archaeological or
historic interest.
Permission will be granted for wind turbine developments in any
other area indicated in an Area Plan as being of particular
landscape, conservation or amenity value if it can be shown that the
proposal would not significantly detract from the character of that
area.
Exceptions may be made for single turbines or small groups of
turbines which are intended primarily to supply the premises of the
developer, provided that siting can be accomplished with no
significant effects on the landscape or special character of the
area.
Particular regard will be had to the degree of visual intrusion and
noise disturbance to be expected, and the proximity of existing
infrastructure such as airports, power-lines, railways and roads
where public safety implications will be assessed. Consideration
will also be given to possible loss of amenity through disturbance
during site construction; shadow flicker when the turbines are
operating and possible electro-magnetic interference with
communications, including television reception.
Where appropriate, the planning assessment will include the
cumulative effects of successive developments within a particular
area.
In considering proposals, account will be taken of the extent to
which development would provide research benefits which will assist
the future assessment and consideration of wind energy projects.
The determination of proposals for neighbouring developments which
might impair the performance of a turbine will take into
consideration the threat to the public benefit of the power output
from the turbine. |
