Planning Supporting Statement - Partnerships for Renewables

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Louth Canal Wind Energy Development 6 The Development Plan 6.1 Introduction 6.1.1 In accordance with section 38 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, the Development Plan relevant to the proposed Louth Canal Wind Energy Development comprises the Regional Strategy for the East Midlands and the saved policies of the East Lindsey Local Plan (1995). Under the transitional arrangements in the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, the Saved Policies from the East Lindsey Local Plan remain part of the statutory Development Plan. These policies will subsequently be replaced by the emerging Local Development Framework. 6.1.2 East Lindsey District Council is currently working towards the production of their Local Development Framework, however this is at an early stage of development and there is likely to be a significant interim period until the adoption of the relevant Local Development Documents. 6.1.3 Section 38 (6) of The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 requires that planning applications: 'Shall be made in accordance with the Development Plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise' 10 6.1.4 A large variety of other documents can be material considerations to be considered in the determination of planning applications. This includes non-statutory planning documents (e.g. Supplementary Planning Documents), national policy documents (e.g. Planning Policy Statements), draft documents, other plans and strategies and recent planning applications. Therefore, although a main focus of this chapter is on requirements set out in the Development Plan, it also identifies other strategies and plans which should be considered as part of the determination of the application. 6.2 Recent Changes to Planning Policy 6.2.1 The Coalition Government has stated their intent to abolish the Regional Spatial Strategies (RSSs) through the Localism Act. The Localism Act was enacted in November 2011, but the section of the Act that give the Secretary of State the power to abolish the Regional Strategy has not yet come into force. In the interim period, decision makers in local planning authorities will, in their determination of planning applications, need to consider whether the Government‟s stated intent to abolish the RSSs affects the weight to be afforded to the policies contained therein. 6.2.2 The Secretary of State provided the following guidance in relation to the former regional policies on renewable energy and low carbon energy to local planning authorities, so they can continue to bring forward their Local Development Frameworks (LDF) and make planning decisions in the transitional period. 10 As stated in Section 38 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 which replaced Section 54a of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 March 2012 18 Planning Supporting Statement Copyright Partnerships for Renewables Development Co. Ltd 2012 ©
Louth Canal Wind Energy Development 6.2.3 The Secretary of State has reinforced the Government‟s continued support for the development of renewable and low carbon energy by stating that: „Through their local plans, authorities should contribute to the move to a low carbon economy, cut greenhouse gas emissions, help secure more renewable and low carbon energy to meet national targets, and to adapt to the impacts arising from climate change. In doing so, planning authorities may find it useful to draw on data that was collected by the Regional Local Authority Leaders‟ Boards (which will be made available) and more recent work, including assessments of the potential for renewable and low carbon energy‟. 6.3 Regional Planning Policy 6.3.1 The East Midlands Plan was published in 2009. As at 1 April 2010 the existing issued East Midlands Plan and the Regional Economic Strategy together form the Regional Strategy for the East of England. 6.3.2 The role of the Regional Strategy is to guide the production of the Local Development Frameworks, through plan-making policies. Whilst the Regional Strategy was not envisaged as a strategy for the determination of individual planning applications, there are specific policies which can be applied directly to development management decisions. 6.3.3 Policy 40 (Regional Priorities for Low Carbon Energy Generation) seeks to achieve the regional target of 175MWe (460GWh/y) of energy from onshore wind sources by 2020. The policy sets out specific criteria for Local Planning Authorities to consider in relation to wind energy proposals. 6.3.4 In establishing criteria for onshore wind energy, Local Planning Authorities should give particular consideration to: Landscape and visual impact, informed by local Landscape Character Assessments; The effect on the natural and cultural environment (including Biodiversity, the integrity of designated nature conservation sites of international importance, and historic assets and their settings); The effect on the built environment (including noise intrusion); The number and size of turbines proposed; The cumulative impact of wind generation projects, including „intervisibility‟; The contribution of wind generation projects to the regional renewables target; and The contribution of wind generation projects to national and international environmental objectives on climate change. 6.3.5 Policy 31 (Priorities for the Management and Enhancement of the Region’s Landscape) seeks to promote the highest level of protection for the nationally designated landscapes of the Lincolnshire Wolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The site is located approximately 6.3km east of the designation, but not within it. March 2012 19 Planning Supporting Statement Copyright Partnerships for Renewables Development Co. Ltd 2012 ©
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Planning Supporting Statement - Partnerships for Renewables

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