Site planning
Positioning relative to buildings, trees or other obstructions that may cause turbulence must be carefully taken in to account. Ideally the turbine should not be sited more than 150m away from your distribution board but not closer than twice the height of the nearest buildings or obstruction on the prevailing wind side.
Turbulence will shorten the life of the turbine whilst distance will dissipate the power generated and require thicker, more expensive cable.
Access is required for a lorry and lifting equipment for installation.
Planning permission
Effective from 6th April 2008 certain specified types of microgeneration equipment installed on or within the curtilage of a detached dwelling house will not require planning consent by virtue of the provisions of the revised General Permitted Development Order (GPDO). Unfortunately, for the time being wind turbines do not fall within the specified list of permissible technologies.
The Government is in the process of agreeing appropriate standards for wind turbines (as well as air source heat pumps) focussed particularly on the issue of noise and vibration and aims to include them in a further revision of the GPDO. The detail of such inclusion is not yet known but it is thought unlikely that the 9m and 15m towers will be permitted.
For the time being current legislation dictates that planning permission is required.
Whilst many Local Plans may not be specific concerning renewable energy and wind turbines in particular, the LPA’s are aware of the thrust of government policy. There is a National Planning Policy Statement (PPS22) specific to renewable energy which promotes and encourages the development of renewable energy resources.
Being located in an AONB or National Park does not necessarily preclude planning permission for a turbine. We have successfully obtained consent in AONBs and policy in National Parks does not totally rule out a turbine. The visual impact of such a structure is critical.
For sites in England & Wales, if instructed we will prepare and submit a planning application for a charge of £365 plus VAT for a single turbine. In addition to this there is the cost of the LPA planning fee the quantum of which was £135 until 6th April 2008 but since then is in some doubt as the planning authorities grapple with the new charges. Our understanding is that the fee should be £150 if the turbine is within the property curtilage or £170 if in a field outside the curtilage however some planning authorities argue that such a turbine should be treated as ‘plant & machinery’ for which a fee of £335 should be payable. We will update this website as and when we get more consistency from the Local Planning Authorities. Going to the planning stage does not commit you to proceeding with the purchase and installation of a turbine through Natural Energy.
