Planning Guidance

Various planning policies are relevant when the Planning Committee examines Nuon’s application and should be borne in mind when objecting.  Briefly the policies are as follows:

PPS1 aims to facilitate and promote sustainable and inclusive patterns of urban and rural development.  It says that land should be made available for development in line with economic and environmental objectives to improve people’s quality of life.  It also confirms that the Government is committed to protecting and enhancing the quality of the natural and historic environment.

PPS7 aims to promote more sustainable patterns of development by protecting the countryside for the sake of its intrinsic character and beauty, the diversity of its landscape, heritage and wildlife, … so it may be enjoyed by all.  It advises that, in determining planning applications, authorities should provide for the sensitive exploitation of renewable energy sources in accordance with policies set out in PPS22.

PPG9 sets out the government’s vision for conserving and enhancing biological diversity in England, with a broad aim that: ‘planning, construction development and regeneration should have minimal impacts on biodiversity and enhance it wherever possible’.

PPG15 provides guidance in respect of development which will affect the historic and built environment.  It says:  The physical survivals of our past are to be valued and protected for their own sake, as a central part of our cultural heritage and our sense of national identity. They are an irreplaceable record which contributes, through formal education and in many other ways, to our understanding of both the present and the past. Their presence adds to the quality of our lives, by enhancing the familiar and cherished local scene and sustaining the sense of local distinctiveness which is so important an aspect of the character and appearance of our towns, villages and countryside. The historic environment is also of immense importance for leisure and recreation.

PPS22, Renewable Energy, aims to increase the development of renewable energy resources.  The key principles are:

  • Renewable energy developments should be capable of being accommodated throughout England in locations where the technology is viable and environmental, economic, and social impacts can be addressed satisfactorily;
  • The wider environmental and economic benefits of all proposals for renewable energy projects, whatever their scale, are material considerations that should be given significant weight in determining whether proposals should be granted planning permission;
  • Small scale projects can provide a limited but valuable contribution to overall outputs of renewable energy [this in reference to domestic developments];
  • Development proposals should demonstrate any environmental, economic and social benefits as well as how any environmental and social impacts have been minimised through careful consideration of location, scale, design and other measures.

There is a Companion Guide to PPS22 which identifies the key issues in determining planning applications and has a very detailed technical annex upon wind.

PG24 looks for ways throughout planning to minimise the adverse impact of noise and states that noise can be a material consideration in the determination of planning applications.  Development should not cause an unacceptable degree of disturbance.

Regional Policy 39 says that in establishing criteria for onshore wind energy, LPAs should give particular consideration to:

  • landscape and visual impact;
  • the effect on the natural and cultural environment;
  • 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 objectives on climate change.

Policy ENG12 says that sensitive design should ensure that renewable energy installations or development are designed sensitively to take full account of their impact on the natural environment.

Local planning policy EN34 covers protected species and says that planning permission will not be granted for any development that would have an adverse effect on any site supporting species protected by law, [such as bats].

EN38 says that planning permission for agricultural development will be granted only if the design, siting and external appearance of the proposed development is not damaging to the appearance of the landscape or the amenity of residential areas.

EN16 concerns industrial development in open countryside and says that planning permission will not normally be granted for general industrial development in the hamlets and open countryside.

Additionally, there are Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) prepared jointly by Daventry District Council and South Northants Council, one of which is for Energy and Development’.  General planning considerations included in the SPD include:

  • Development should be compatible with the local geology;
  • Development shall enhance and respect the charater and setting of historic, cultural and archaeological assets;
  • Development shall respect landscape character.