Planning permission is required for all wind turbines. This includes turbines for:
- domestic purposes
- hospitals
- factories
- farms
- schools
- serving other individual buildings
Details on Wind Farm applications can be found on our Wind Farms page.
Applying for planning permission
Planning applications for wind turbines should be submitted on the P1 form. The application must also be accompanied by the appropriate maps. Planning application forms, fees and explanatory notes can be found on our application forms and fees page.
Applications for domestic and specific (e.g. hospitals, factories or farms) Wind Turbines should be submitted to you local Divisional Planning Office. Contact details can be found on our key contacts page.
Fees
The fee for this type of application is found under Category 5 of our fee schedule. As at May 2006 this amounts to '£200 for each 0.1 hectare of the site area subject to a maximum of £10,000'. The full fees schedule, application forms and explanatory notes can be found on our application forms and fees page.
Related Policies
- Regional Development Strategy (RDS) for NI 2025 – SPG-ENV 5, SPG ENV 6
- Planning Strategy for Rural NI PSU 12
- Planning Policy Statement 1 – General Principles
- Planning Policy Statement 2 – Planning & Nature Conservation
- Planning Policy Statement 3 (Revised) – Access, Movement & Parking
- Planning Policy Statement 6 – Planning, Archaeology and the Built Heritage
- Relevant Development Plans
- DCAN 15
- Planning Strategy for Rural NI DES 4 in relation to ancillary buildings and structures.
- Planning Policy Statement 14 (Draft) – Sustainable Development in the Countryside in relation to ancillary buildings & structures elsewhere in the countryside.
- Coastal policies in the RDS and Planning Strategy for Rural N Ireland (where applicable)
Environmental Impact Assessment
If an Environmental Statement is not submitted voluntarily with an application, most turbine applications will require that the Dept. carry out an Environmental Impact Determination under Schedule 2 (3) (j) of The Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 
.
In many cases (for example less than 2 turbines or where the hub height does not exceed 15 metres) applications for individual turbines for domestic purposes will not require to be accompanied by an Environmental Statement but you should contact your local divisional planning office for further information .
Where it is determined that an Environmental Statement is not required, the Department may nonetheless require the applicant to provide additional information to enable it to process the application – e.g. a noise assessment, ecological study or information on interference with emergency fixed links.
Each application will be judged on its own merits and additional information will depend on the individual circumstances. For example:
- site location,
- turbine height,
- site designations such as A.O.N.B's or Conservation Areas.
Further information
Renewable energy grants
Grants for renewable energy schemes are administered through Action Renewables (Tel: 028 9068 5093) www.actionrenewables.org
Also telephone Reconnect on 0800 023 4077. For general information on all aspects of renewable energy telephone Action Renewables on 0808 141 2020.
Energy Efficiency Advice and Support
The Energy Saving Trust Advice Centre offers free and impartial advice and support on energy efficiency, renewable energy and low carbon transport, to all householders in Northern Ireland via a freephone 0800 512 012.
To find out how you can make your home energy efficient you can also complete a FREE Home Energy Check online at http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/check