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Return to contentsInspectorate which decides this with little regard to the views of localcommunities. We believe that if landscape character assessments areincorporated into local plans then the chance that unacceptable siteswill be selected will be greatly reduced. Case study 4 demonstratesthat despite an onshore wind application affecting the setting ofimportant local landscapes valued by local communities, theseconsiderations were overruled.Case study 4: local landscapesNorthamptonshire has no national designations but does haveseveral areas of special local landscape which are highly valued bylocal communities. The development of onshore wind turbines atNun Wood was permitted on appeal despite being situated close toareas of special local landscape and across the Three Shires Waybridleway which passes through the proposed site. The applicationwas originally rejected by the local planning authority on the basisthat the development would be contrary to ‘saved’ local planpolicies, and its scale and the number of turbines would causeunacceptable impacts on the landscape and national footpaths.We believe that iflandscape characterassessments areincorporated into localplans then the chancethat unacceptable siteswill be selected will begreatly reduced15The Inspector stated that it ‘would have a significant effect onthe character of the landscape of the area that would cause adegree of harm. It is unlikely that turbines of this size would dootherwise. Objectively, it cannot be argued that the character ofthe landscape would be enhanced by such large man-madestructures. The effect on the character could be described asadverse and long-term.’ Despite this, the Inspector determinedthat the harm was outweighed by the ‘urgent need for renewableenergy as promoted in national and regional policies and the widerenvironmental and economic benefits’. Moreover, he stated thatthe landscape impacts were not ‘sufficient to overcome theconsiderations [he] deemed to be paramount’.26. Some of England’s historic areas are also at risk. This year a proposalfor six wind turbines was granted on appeal at a site overlookingKelmarsh Hall and the site of the Battle of Naseby (see Annex 1).In the decision letter the Inspector stated that ‘the wind turbineswould introduce another modern element into views into and acrossthe battlefield’. He recognised that ‘their presence would act as afurther distraction that would make interpretation more difficult.This would detract from the significance of the battlefield and harmits setting’. He concluded that ‘while it would introduce movement,the turbines would occupy a limited part of the field of view’.Local communities disagreed arguing that the development wouldhave a devastating effect on the heritage area (see also case study 5).<strong>Generating</strong> <strong>light</strong> on landscape impacts: How to accommodate onshore wind while protecting the countryside
Return to contents16Case study 5: historic significanceFour wind turbines were granted permission at a site overlookingLyveden New Bield a Grade I listed building in 2012 (see Annex 1)following a planning inquiry. The Inspector concluded that therenewable energy the development would produce outweighed the‘less than substantial harm it would cause to the setting of designatedheritage assets’. English Heritage and the National Trust, however,believe the decision will have serious implications for the future ofheritage sites and the landmark case could undermine the protectionof heritage sites in the future.Recommendation: The Government should ensure local planningauthorities seek to protect landscape character in their local plansand in planning decisions to encourage more appropriate siting ofonshore wind and assist in reducing the number of inappropriatelysited proposals.The Government should also instruct the Planning Inspectorate togive significant weight when making decisions on developmentproposals to any local plans which have attempted to identifyappropriate and inappropriate areas for onshore wind development.Avoiding lasting harm27. When a wind turbine comes to the end of its useful life it should beremoved from the landscape. While there are national measures inplace to ensure offshore wind turbines are decommissioned there isno such measure in place for onshore turbines. The Energy Act 2004,for example, introduces a decommissioning scheme for offshore windinstallations. 25 The scheme ensures that anyone who constructs oroperates an installation should be responsible for ensuring that it isdecommissioned at the end of its useful life and that they should alsobe fiscally responsible for meeting the costs of decommissioning. 2628. Onshore wind installations, by contrast, are not covered by the samenational guidance. While in the Government’s National PolicyStatements for Energy there is a requirement for large onshore windfarms (over 50MW) and associated infrastructure to be removed at theend of their operational life, the actual terms can vary by application. 27For smaller wind farms and individual turbines (under 50MW),conditions for decommissioning of the turbines are outlined inplanning permissions, not by the Government. 28 While local planningauthorities and indeed Planning Inspectors are often keen to ensurethat adequate provisions for decommissioning are stipulated in thepermissions given, we believe that a national requirement would avoidany ambiguity which might arise (see case study 6).25DECC, Decommissioning of offshorerenewable energy installations underthe Energy Act 2004: Guidance notesfor industry, 201126DECC, Energy Infrastructure: A DECCservice for England and Wales, lastaccessed 2 March 201227DECC, National Policy Statementfor Renewable Energy Infrastructure(EN-3): Planning for new energyinfrastructure, 201128Department for Communities and LocalGovernment, Planning Policy Statement22: Renewable Energy, 2004<strong>Generating</strong> <strong>light</strong> on landscape impacts: How to accommodate onshore wind while protecting the countryside
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