The IOA have responded to the consultation by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on their proposed approach to updating to the National Planning Policy Framework for England. The comments refer to paragraph 160 which covers the determination of planning applications for renewable and low carbon development. This covers the approval of extending the life of existing renewables sites, and advocates assessing them in relation to the existing baseline on the site.
The IOA are commenting in connection with on-shore windfarms, and question the clarity of this paragraph. Our response states that it is not clear whether the baseline referred to is, for example, the sound level generated by an existing windfarm or the sound level before there was any windfarm. It is recognised that there are difficult judgements to make when assessing these issues and we are offering to discuss these points with officials where that would be helpful.
