The application for planning consent is a vital process in the development of a wind farm. Without this, a wind farm project would never be completed. The following steps are a general description of the planning process which varies on a case by case basis.

Pre-application talks
Environmental Impact Assessment screening and scoping process
Planning application preparation
Supporting documentation
Consideration and consultation
Decision

Pre-application talks

The planning process will normally begin with discussions with the Council's planning officers and consultees. These talks serve to inform all parties about the particular issues relevant to the project. 

The discussions may determine whether or not an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is required for the site.

Environmental Impact Assessment
screening and scoping process

If it is uncertain whether an EIA will be required a screening request will be made to the Council (as the Local Planning Authority), who have a statutory three week timeframe in which to respond.  The Council's answer will be either that an EIA is required, or that an EIA is not required.  Alternatively we may decide without requesting a screening opinion that an EIA is required.

Where an EIA is required, a scoping opinion will be requested from the Council, who have a statutory five week timeframe for response.  The scoping opinion will set out those issues which need to be considered during the EIA.

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Planning application preparation

Next we will prepare a planning application that sets out the details of the proposal as informed by:

• the pre-application discussions with the Council 
• other consultees
• community consultation undertaken by us prior to lodgement (consultation events are noted on the Community page)

Supporting documentation

The planning application will be accompanied by substantial information to aid the Local Planning Authority in its consideration of the proposal. In the case of applications which require an  EIA this will include an Environmental Statement (documentation of the EIA).

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Consideration and consultation

The Council has 8 weeks to determine an application, increasing to 13 weeks where the proposal is considered a 'major development' (over 1 hectare), and 16 weeks where the proposal is subject to an EIA. 

In determining the proposal the Council will undertake its own publicity of the application, and will consult widely with internal and external experts on such matters as landscape impact, traffic and ecology to name a few.

Decision

The applicant has a right to appeal:

• if the decision is a refusal
• against conditions of approval
• if the application is not determined within the statutory time period (ie 8, 13 or 16 weeks as the case may be)

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