PPS22 para 22 suggests "Plans may include criteria that set out the minimum separation distances between different types of renewable energy projects and existing developments. The 1997 report by ETSU for the Department of Trade and Industry should be used to assess and rate noise from wind energy development". We have discouraged this approach in favour of specific site monitoring but senior Members now ask have such policies been used elsewhere and if so with what critiria and what degree of success? Can anyone offer any light on this?
We have included distance 'recommendations' in our Wind Energy Policy. However, it is a Council Policy as we don't have a saved local plan policy or Core Strategy at the moment. You can read it on www.torridge.gov.uk/planning/publications. With regards to the success, the policy was adopted in May 2010. We have had one enquiry that shows 500m buffer zones.
