March 12, 2008

BWEA, the trade association representing the UK’s micro- and small-wind industry, today welcomed the Govt’s decision to relax planning rules for onsite household wind turbines.

The Govt plans to allow householders to install wind turbines, with a diameter of up to 2m, without having to get planning permission from local councils.

Alex Murley BWEA Small Systems Manager said “Planning is one of the major blockages to providing onsite renewables for homes and businesses” he added “thousands of applications are stuck in the planning process, this reform will make it much easier for consumers to supply their own clean, green energy.”

The Govt is introducing new regulation as part of its reform of the planning system, the General Permitted Development Order (GPDO), to relax planning red tape for domestic renewable energy. Micro-wind turbines and air source heat pumps has passed the first stage of being included in the new guidance having won UK Government approval from DCLG, it now has to be referred to the EU for final ratification before coming into force.