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Planning Policy Statement 22 - Renewable Energy
The full text of the Government's Consultation Draft is below
The future of onshore wind is in the balance. The
Alison Morris
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
Planning Policies Division A
Zone 4/H4
Eland House
Bressenden Place
Tel 020 7944 3935
Fax 020 7944 3949
Or by email to: pps22consultation@odpm.gsi.gov.uk”
1. This consultation paper seeks comments on a draft of a new Planning Policy Statement (PPS) on Renewable Energy. The intention is that this PPS (and accompanying Companion Guide to be drafted) should, in due course, replace Planning Policy Guidance note 22 (PPG22), Renewable Energy (February 1993). PPG22 can be viewed at http://www.odpm.gov.uk (under <planning> < planning policy>).
2. Views and comments on the draft should be submitted to the address in paragraph 14 below by
3. Planning Policy Guidance notes (PPGs) set out the Government's national land use planning policies for
4. In this context, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM), in close consultation with the Department for Trade and Industry (DTI), the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and other relevant government departments, has carried out a review of PPG22. The Government believes that there remains a strong requirement for a distinct set of national planning policies that address the particular circumstances of renewable energy. It is also the Government's view that the broad planning policy framework provided by PPG22 remains appropriate. However, it has concluded that a considerable amount of the material in PPG22, particularly in its annexes, is out of date and/or inappropriate for a shorter, focused statement of national planning policies.
5. In the light of its review and the conclusions reached, a draft PPS22, set out in Part 2 of this Paper, has been produced for public consultation. The draft sets out the Government's broad policy objectives relevant to renewable energy in
6. Many of the policies in draft PPS22 are based on existing policies in PPG22, updated as appropriate. However, there is a clearer focus on assisting the
7. The statement does not cover those technologies which are not within the remit of the land use planning system - such as offshore technologies, or wider issues such as energy efficiency within buildings. It also excludes issues which are the subject of other planning policy statements or guidance notes, which should be read in conjunction with this one. In particular it does not replicate the policies in PPG10: Planning and Waste Management.
8. The Government considers that a considerable amount of the existing text and information within PPG22 would be extraneous to the new form of PPS proposed by the Planning Green Paper. Therefore most of the background, contextual and non-planning material in PPG22, as well as material setting out statutory requirements (as opposed to policy) and guidance on how policies are to be implemented have been omitted from the draft. The draft also seeks to minimise duplication of policies more appropriately set out in other PPGs, and any successor PPS, and the number of cross-references to these documents.
9. It is however the Government's intention to publish a companion guide separately from the PPS when the final version of PPS22 is published. This document will contain technical advice and guidance on the various individual renewable technologies and examples of good practice within development plans and developments.
10. The Government would welcome views, particularly from planning authorities, on whether separate guidance on any other aspects of the planning policies in PPS22 would assist in the implementation of these policies.
11. Comments are also invited on the Draft Regulatory Impact Statement set out in Part 3 of this document.
12. The policies in draft PPS22 would complement, but not change, other national planning policies (e.g. those set out in other PPGs). This draft reflects Government policies at the time of drafting and does not attempt to anticipate the outcome of other reviews or proposals. Examples of such proposals include the examination, with other government departments, how to bring consideration of the use of renewables and energy efficiency in developments more within the scope of the planning system, and the development and implementation of a strategic approach to energy within the regions by DTI. These proposals will be subject to separate consultation. The final version of PPS22 will reflect any resulting policy changes effected before it is published, as appropriate.
13. Where this PPS makes reference to regional planning guidance and development plans, the relevant documents following the enactment of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Bill, and subject to Parliamentary approval, will be Regional Spatial Strategies and Local Development Frameworks respectively. Separate draft guidance is currently available for comments regarding the implementation of this new system on the ODPM website. The final version of PPS22 will also reflect, as necessary, any other changes to the planning system as a result of the Government's package of planning reforms.
14. The period of public consultation will last for 12 weeks and responses should be submitted to arrive at the ODPM at the following address by
Alison Morris
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
Planning Policies Division A
Zone 4/H4
Eland House
Bressenden Place
Tel 020 7944 3935
Fax 020 7944 3949
Or by email to: pps22consultation@odpm.gsi.gov.uk
15. Please do not send responses in more than one format. It would also be helpful if responses from representative groups could provide a summary of the people and organisations they represent.
16. ODPM welcomes responses to this consultation document from any member of the public. We are also sending copies of the document, seeking comments to:
n All local planning authorities in
n Professional organisations, interest groups and representative bodies in Planning, renewables, housing, the development industry and business
n Academics and consultants in planning, renewables, housing, the development industry and business
n Other special interest groups
n Members of the public who have requested a copy.
17. Responses may be made available for public inspection in the ODPM library. The ODPM will assume that you do not object to this approach to openness unless notified otherwise. Consultation responses may also be included in a statistical summary and a summary of responses may subsequently be published on the ODPM website.
18. This consultation is being conducted in accordance with the Government's Code of Practice on Written Consultation. The criteria are set out in Part 4 of this paper. Any procedural observations or complaints about the consultation exercise should be sent to
David Plant,
ODPM,
Room 3/19,
26
David.plant@odpm.gsi.gov.uk.
Planning Policy Statements (PPS) set out the Government's national policies for different aspects of land use planning in
The policies set out in this statement will need to be taken into account by regional planning bodies in the preparation of policies for Regional Planning Guidance (or any successor) and by local planning authorities in their development plan policies (or their successors); they may also be material to decisions on individual planning applications. National policies set out in other planning policy statements or PPGs may also be relevant to consideration of planning for renewable energy.
For the purposes of this PPS, renewable energy covers those energy flows that occur naturally and repeatedly in the environment - from the wind, the fall of water, the movement of the oceans, from the sun and also from biomass.[2] This guidance therefore covers technologies such as onshore wind generation, hydro, photovoltaics, passive solar, biomass and energy crops, energy from waste (but not energy from mass incineration of domestic waste), and landfill and sewage gas. As the land use planning system does not extend offshore, this guidance does not cover issues relating to offshore renewables. Nor does it cover issues such as combined heat and power (CHP) although, given that some CHP projects are fuelled by a renewable resource, a number of the policies set out here may be relevant.
A companion guide is to be produced to accompany this PPS. This will include a technical annex, which gives more details about particular technologies, as well as including a range of good practice guidance on planning and renewable energy.
Contents:
The Government's Objectives
National Planning Policies
- key principles
- regional targets
- regional planning guidance and development plans
- locational considerations
- other considerations
The Government's energy policy, including its policy on renewable energy, is set out in the Energy White Paper[3]. This aims to put the
Renewable energy is likely to make a considerable contribution to these aims. The Government has already set a target to generate 10% of
Increased development of renewable energy resources is vital to facilitating the delivery of the Government's commitments on both climate change and renewable energy. Positive planning which facilitates renewable energy developments can contribute to all four elements of the Government's sustainable development strategy:
- social progress which recognises the needs of everyone - by contributing to the nation's energy needs, ensuring all homes are adequately and affordably heated; and providing new sources of energy in remote areas;
- effective protection of the environment - by reductions in greenhouse gases and thereby reducing the potential for the environment to be affected by climate change;
- prudent use of natural resources - by reducing the nation's reliance on ever diminishing supplies of fossil fuels; and,
- maintenance of high and stable levels of economic growth and employment - through the creation of jobs directly related to renewable energy developments, but also in the development of new technologies. In rural areas, renewable energy projects have the potential to play an increasingly important role in the diversification of rural economies.
Key Principles
1. Regional planning bodies and local planning authorities should adhere to the following key principles in their approach to planning for renewable energy:
1. Renewable energy developments should be capable of being accommodated throughout
2. Regional planning guidance and development plans should contain policies designed to promote and encourage, rather than restrict, the development of renewable energy resources. Regional Planning Bodies and local planning authorities should recognise the full range of renewable energy sources, their differing characteristics, locational requirements and the potential for exploiting them subject to appropriate environmental safeguards.
3. At the local level, planning authorities should set out the criteria that will be applied in assessing applications for planning permission for renewable energy projects. Planning policies that rule out or place constraints on the development of all, or specific types of, renewable energy technologies should not be included in regional planning guidance or development plans without sufficient reasoned justification. The Government may intervene in the plan making process where it considers that the constraints being proposed by local authorities are too great or have been poorly justified.
4. 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.
5. Regional planning bodies and local planning authorities should not make assumptions about the technical feasibility of renewable energy projects (e.g. identifying generalised locations for development based on mean wind speeds).Technological change can mean that sites currently excluded as locations for particular types of renewable energy development may in future be suitable.
6. Local planning authorities, regional stakeholders and Local Strategic Partnerships should foster community involvement in renewable energy projects[4] and seek to promote knowledge of and greater acceptance by the public of prospective renewable energy developments that are appropriately located. Developers of renewable energy projects should engage in active consultation and discussion with local communities at an early stage in the planning process.
7. 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. Some proposals will be subject to a requirement for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). In such circumstances, local authorities and developers should discuss whether consideration of alternative sites is necessary.
2. The Energy White Paper indicated that the Government would be looking to work with regional and local bodies to deliver the Government's objectives, including establishing regional targets for renewable energy generation. Regional Planning Guidance (RPG) should include the target for renewable energy generation for its respective region, derived from assessments of the region's renewable energy resource potential.
3. Targets in RPG should be expressed as the minimum amount of renewable energy to be generated within the region as a percentage of total generation within the region. Targets should be set for achievement by 2010 and by 2020.[5] Progress towards achieving these targets should be monitored by Regional Planning Bodies. Targets should be reviewed on a regular basis and revised upwards (if they are met) subject to the region's renewable energy resource potential and capacity. The fact that a target has been reached should not be used as a reason for refusing planning permission for further renewable energy projects.
4. Where appropriate, regional targets in regional planning guidance may be disaggregated into sub-regional targets. It may also be appropriate to give a broad indication of how different technologies could contribute towards regional targets. But fixed targets for specific technologies should not be set given that rapid technological change may mean that new sources of renewable energy may be developed in the longer term.
5. Offshore renewable generation projects (such as offshore wind, offshore wave and tidal stream), which are not covered by the land-use planning system, should be identified as a separate regional target from land based renewable energy projects. The potential to generate substantial amounts of renewable energy from offshore projects should not be used to set lower targets for onshore projects.
6. Local planning authorities should only allocate specific sites for renewable energy in plans where these have already been confirmed by a developer as being viable, and are likely to be brought forward during the plan period. Most planning applications for renewable energy projects will need to be assessed against specific criteria set out in regional planning guidance and development plans. Regional planning bodies and local planning authorities should ensure that such criteria-based policies are consistent with, or reinforced by, policies in plans on other issues against which renewable energy applications could be assessed.
7. Criteria based policies should be set out in regional planning guidance where these can be applied across a region, or across clearly identified sub-regional areas. These criteria should then be used to identify broad areas at the regional/sub-regional level where development of particular types of renewable energy may be appropriate. Other criteria may also need to be set in local plans to reflect local circumstances, but local planning authorities should only focus on the key criteria that will be used to judge applications. More detailed issues may be appropriate to supplementary planning guidance.
International Designated Sites
8. In sites of international importance for nature conservation (Special Protection Areas, Special Areas of Conservation, and RAMSAR Sites) planning permission should only be granted for renewable energy developments once an assessment has shown that the integrity of the site will not be adversely affected. Many renewable energy developments are likely to have some adverse effects on the integrity of such sites. In these circumstances, planning permission should only be granted where there is no alternative solution and there are imperative reasons of overriding public interest, including those of a social or economic nature[6].
National Designations
9. In sites with national designations (such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest, National Nature Reserves, National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and Heritage Coasts) planning permission for renewable energy projects should only be granted where it can be demonstrated that the objectives of designation of the area will not be compromised by the development, and any significant adverse effects on the qualities for which the area has been designated are clearly outweighed by the environmental, social and economic benefits.
10. Regional planning bodies and local planning authorities should set out in regional planning guidance and development plans the criteria based policies which set out the circumstances in which particular types and sizes of renewable energy developments will be acceptable in nationally designated areas. Care should be taken to identify the scale of renewable energy developments that may be acceptable in particular areas. Small-scale developments should be permitted within areas such as National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and
Green Belts
11. Policy on development in the green belt is set out in PPG2. When located in the green belt, many renewable energy projects will comprise at least some degree of inappropriate development, which may impact on the openness or perceived openness of the green belt. Careful consideration will therefore need to be given to the visual impact of projects, and developers will need to demonstrate very special circumstances that clearly outweigh any harm by reason of inappropriateness and any other harm if projects are to proceed. Such very special circumstances may include the wider environmental benefits associated with increased production of energy from renewable sources.
Buffer Zones and Local Designations
12. Regional planning bodies and local planning authorities should not create "buffer zones" around international or nationally designated areas and apply policies to these zones that prevent the development of renewable energy projects. Nor should local landscape and local nature conservation designations be used in themselves to refuse planning permission for renewable energy developments.
Other locational considerations
13. As renewable energy resources can only be developed where the resource exists and where economically feasible, local planning authorities should not use a sequential approach in the consideration of renewable energy projects (for example, by giving priority to the re-use of previously developed land for renewable technology developments). However, in preparing development plans and in discussions with developers, planning authorities should recognise that some previously developed sites, whilst being unsustainable in terms of other land uses (e.g. a site in a remote location unsuitable for housing) may offer opportunities for developing some forms of renewable energy projects.
14. Many types of renewable energy developments are capable of being accommodated in urban as well as rural areas. Regional planning bodies and local planning authorities should therefore ensure that criteria included in development plans are appropriate for, and cover the specific requirements of, both urban and rural areas. Local planning authorities should also consider the opportunity for developing renewable energy projects in connection with large-scale new development.
Other Considerations
Visual Effects
15. Visual effect will vary on a case by case basis according to the location or landscape setting of the proposed development, but the impact may be minimised through appropriate siting, design and landscaping schemes, depending on the size and type of development proposed. Potential developments should be assessed using objective descriptive material and analysis wherever possible even though the final decision on the visual impact will be, to some extent, subjective. Policies in plans should concentrate on the mitigation of visual effects (e.g. on the siting, layout, landscaping, design and colour of schemes), rather than trying to provide specific criteria against which potential harm is assessed.
16. Of all renewable technologies, wind turbines are likely to have the greatest visual impact. However, in assessing planning applications, local authorities should recognise that the impact of turbines on the landscape will vary according to the size and number of turbines and the type of landscape involved.
17. Planning authorities should also take into account the cumulative impact of wind generation projects in particular areas. Such impacts should be assessed at the planning application stage and authorities should not set arbitrary limits in development plans on the numbers of turbines that will be acceptable in particular locations.
Noise
18. Renewable technologies may generate small increases in noise levels (whether from machinery or from associated sources - for example, traffic). Local planning authorities should ensure that renewable energy developments have been located and designed in such a way to minimise increases in ambient noise levels. Plans may include criteria that set out the minimum separation distances between different types of renewable energy projects and existing developments. The 1996 report by ETSU for the Department of Trade and Industry should be used to assess and rate noise from wind energy development[7].
Odour
19. In handling planning applications for anaerobic digestion, local planning authorities should consider carefully the potential impacts of odour and the proposals put forward for its control. Normally such plants should not be located in close proximity to existing residential areas.
Biomass Projects and Energy Crops
20. For biomass projects, the need to transport crops to the energy production plant does have the potential to lead to increases in traffic. Local planning authorities should make sure that the effects of such increases are minimised by ensuring that generation plants are located in as close a proximity as possible to the sources of fuel that have been identified. But in determining planning applications, planning authorities should recognise that there are other considerations (such as connections to the Grid and the potential to use heat generated from the project) which may influence the most suitable locations for such projects.
Wind Turbines
21. Regional planning guidance and development plans should not include policies relating to the impact of wind turbines on radar and aircraft nor relating to separation distances from powerlines, roads, and railways. It is the responsibility of developers to address any potential impacts, taking account of Civil Aviation Authority and Ministry of Defence guidance in relation to radar and the legislative requirements on separation distances, before planning applications are submitted.
1. The objective is to provide a clear, up to date Statement of national Planning Policy (PPS) for renewable energy in
2. In relation to devolution issues, this planning policy statement applies to
3. The PPS would not, in itself, be a regulatory measure, but it would guide planning authorities in the way they carry out their statutory duties under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and other planning legislation. The effect of the PPS should be that regional and local planning policies and development control decisions properly reflect the Government's broader policy objectives for renewable energy. These objectives include the setting of conditions encouraging the development of renewable energy projects, in order to assist towards achievement of the target of 10% of energy generated from renewable sources by 2010.
4. The December 2001 Planning Green Paper, Planning - delivering a fundamental change, explained that national planning policies are an essential way for the Government to achieve its objectives. However, the Green Paper noted the shortcomings in current national planning policy guidance. The Paper announced the Government's intention to review all its planning policy guidance; to see whether it is needed; to seek greater clarity; and to remove from national policy guidance advice on practical implementation and policies which are better expressed at a regional or local level.
5. Following consultation on t he Green Paper, the Government announced (
The review of PPG22 was undertaken, and the draft of PPS22 prepared, against this background, which influenced options considered (below), including any consideration of the 'do nothing' option:
- Option 1: To leave planning policy guidance note 22 as it is.
- Option 2: To do without specific planning policies, and/or specific planning policy guidance, for renewable energy.
- Option 3: To undertake a fundamental overhaul and radical re-write of planning policies for renewable energy, including more extensive and detailed policies, together with explanatory text on the relevant technologies.
- Option 4: To update the existing policy framework provided by PPG22 and recast this guidance into a shorter PPS, with some accompanying good practice guidance.
6. With regard to option 1, Current PPG22 contains references to technologies that are now out of date. In addition Government Policy has moved on in the 10 years since it was published with the publication of the Energy White Paper and the Government's commitments on both climate change and renewable energy. The Deputy Prime Minister's statement of 18 July last year pledged the review of all planning policy guidance notes and, if still required, their reissue as clear and concise statements of national Planning policy guidance excluding practicalities and implementation details more suited to local or regional level guidance. This pledge would indicate that doing nothing is not a viable option in these circumstances.
7. With regard to option 2, the Government believes it is essential to have national planning policies that specifically address renewable energy, as identified in its February 2003 Energy White Paper, Our energy future - creating a low carbon economy. It would be possible to include some of these policies in other PPG/PPS, supported by accompanying guidance. However, the Government believes that this option would be unhelpful to planning authorities, developers and businesses as it would result in the setting of less coherent and more unfocused planning policies, thus risking fewer renewable energy projects being approved and leading to an increased likelihood of the Government targets for renewable energy generation not being met.
8. Option 3 which could involve a major widening of planning policies for renewable energy (for example including other types of energy such as incineration within the remit of the PPS) would inevitably be more controversial. Major changes in such planning policies may be difficult to implement without similar changes to other PPG/PPS in order to avoid inconsistency. It could extend the scope of the planning system, which is already felt to be overburdened and would also be in defiance of the Government's stated aim of reducing and refining the volume of planning guidance. However, it is not clear that such a radical approach is necessary to deliver the Government's wider policy objectives.
9. Pursuing option 4 allows the Government to streamline and update established planning policies for renewable energy. This approach would help to maintain continuity and consistency in an increasingly important and high profile area whilst ensuring that the policies expressed remain relevant to this Government's wider energy policy objectives. Many of the policies in draft PPS22 are based on policies in PPG22, updated as appropriate. However, there is a clearer focus on assisting the
Risks
10. There are no specific risks in issuing the PPS. The main risk in not issuing is that planning authorities will adopt planning policies and take development control decisions that are of a less consistent nature, and less likely to be in accordance with the Government's wider policies. This may have adverse consequences for the Government's energy policy and policies relating to the reduction of greenhouse gases.
11. The greater levels of risks, in terms of potential failure of the planning system to deliver the Government's vision and wider policies for renewable energy are associated with options 2 & 3.
12. Our clear preference is for option 4.
13. As the planning policy statement will apply to all areas equally we believe that it is neutral in effect in relation to issues of diversity. As noted above, PPS22 would not be a regulatory measure.
Costs and Benefits
14. With or without the PPS, renewables businesses (and others) will still need to obtain planning permission for development in accordance with planning legislation. PPG22 seeks to guide planning authorities, as would PPS22, in the exercise of their statutory planning duties, to ensure the development and use of land for renewable energy is of general benefit to communities and businesses, and in the wider public interest.
15. The costs and benefits of any of the options for change set out above are extremely difficult to quantify, in comparison to the existing planning policy framework set out in PPG22. However, in our opinion, the comparative costs of pursuing preferred option 4 would be negligible. The potential benefits of this option are that planning authorities would have a clearer, up to date statement of the Government's aims and objectives for renewable energy and the relevant national policies to achieve their delivery, consistent with other PPG/PPS.
16. The potential comparative costs of option 2 may also be negligible, but this option is less likely to deliver the benefits identified for option 4. The potential costs and benefits of option 3 would depend on the extent and nature of any proposed new policies. It would be open to respondents to the public consultation draft of PPS22 to propose new policies and identify any associated costs and benefits.
Small firms Impact Test
17. PPG22, and its eventual replacement PPS22, are sector-specific. PPS22 will apply in all areas suitable for renewable energy development. PPS22 will be of particular relevance to renewable energy developers and manufacturers in terms of potential and opportunities for additional development. It is recognised that there may be potential for some negative impacts on tourism, but equally this does not mean that renewable energy developments are incompatible with tourism and recreational interests. Some developments such as wind farms or hydro schemes may themselves be of interest to tourists and their existence can be compatible with recreational pursuits such as rambling or fishing. The Small Business Service is being consulted in parallel with this wider consultation so that a small firms impact test can be undertaken.
Competition Assessment
18. Both we and the DTI, who have also considered this document, do not believe the policies expressed in the PPS will distort or restrict competition in the markets affected. Revised PPS22 will have the impact of broadening the market and encouraging competition and rapid technological advances. Companies engaged in the manufacture of renewable energy equipment are likely to benefit from this guidance. It may also have some effect on developers who might be more strongly encouraged to use renewables during construction and/or redevelopment of properties. However, no individual developer is likely to be more affected than another as the policies would apply to all.
Enforcement and Sanctions
19. PPS22 will not have any direct statutory effect on businesses. Accordingly, there are no direct compliance requirements. Planning authorities must have regard to PPG/PPS in formulating local planning policies, and they may also be material to the consideration of individual planning applications. Adherence to PPG/PPS by planning authorities is monitored in the first instance by Regional Government Offices (through their scrutiny of local plans and planning policies), and by The Planning Inspectorate through local plan inquiries and planning appeals. The First Secretary of State (the Deputy Prime Minister) has powers of intervention, but uses these powers sparingly.
Monitoring and Review
20. The Government keeps its planning policies and associated guidance under regular review, usually in consultation with other arms of government and interested parties. It may also commission research on these policies' effectiveness where appropriate.
Summary and Recommendation
21. The Planning Green Paper announced the Government's proposals for review and reform of its national planning policy guidance. PPG22 has been reviewed in this context and four broad options considered.
22. We do not believe that option 1 is a viable one given the outdated nature of the technological guidance and changes in government policy. Furthermore we do not believe that option 2 would be helpful to planning authorities, or to other 'users' of the planning system. It is more likely to lead to inconsistency and uncertainty. Neither do we believe there is a pressing need for the more radical change to renewable energy planning policies suggested by option 3. We believe that option 4 satisfies the Green Paper proposals for review and reform, as well as facilitating the achievement of the Government's wider renewable energy policy objectives. We also think it is most helpful to planning authorities and other 'users'.
23. It is therefore recommended that option 4 be adopted for public consultation. We shall, however, carefully consider any realistic proposals for more radical changes to renewable energy planning policies, together with associated costs and benefits, which arise through the consultation, and that might require the Office to give further consideration to option 3.
1. Timing of consultation should be built into the planning process for a policy (including legislation) or service from the start, so that it has the best prospect of improving the proposals concerned, and so that sufficient time is left for it at each stage.
2. It should be clear who is being consulted, about what questions, in what timescale and for what purpose.
3. A consultation document should be as simple and concise as possible. It should include a summary, in two pages at most, of the main questions it seeks views on. It should make it as easy as possible for readers to respond, make contact or complain.
4. Documents should be made widely available, with the fullest use of electronic means (though not to the exclusion of others), and effectively drawn to the attention of all interested groups and individuals.
5. Sufficient time should be allowed for considered responses from all groups with an interest. Twelve weeks should be the standard minimum period for a consultation.
6. Responses should be carefully and open-mindedly analysed, and the results made widely available, with an account of the views expressed, and reasons for decisions finally taken.
7. Departments should monitor and evaluate consultations, designating a consultation co-ordinator who will ensure the lessons are disseminated.
[1] These broader issues are being considered separately, as part of the commitment in paragraph 4.31 of the Energy White Paper.
[2] Biomass is the biodegradable fraction of products, waste and residues from agriculture (including plant and animal substances), forestry and related industries, as well as the biodegradable fraction of industrial and municipal waste.
[3] "Our energy future - creating a low carbon economy", CM5761, February 2003
[4] The companion guide to this PPS will provide more guidance on these issues.
[5] The technologies covered should be those eligible for the Renewables Obligation (see the consultation paper on the Renewables Obligation Order 2002 at http://www.dti.gov.uk/renew/ropc.pdf) and the draft Renewables Obligation (Amendment) Order 2003 at http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/renewables/policy/roorderamend2003.pdf
[6] The Conservation (Natural Habitats &c) Regulations 1994 set out the legal requirements in respect of European nature conservation sites and the requirements to be met where it is intended to grant planning permission for a project.
[7] 7 "The assessment and rating of noise from Windfarms" ETSU for the DTI available shortly at www.dti.gsi.gov.uk