Wind power and local authority planning outcomes – key statistics for England and Wales |
(results of Economic and Social Research Council study conducted at University of Birmingham Department of Sociology) |
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If a planning officer recommends approval, in 63 per cent of cases the councillors approve planning consent |
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If the local parish council does not object, then in 76 per cent of cases the councillors will approve consent |
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If the local parish council does not object and the planning officer recommends approval, the councillors will approve in 81 per cent of cases |
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The residents in the immediate vicinity of the scheme are generally the most important single influence on the planning decision outcome |
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Lobbying of councillors by their electors is a much more important influence on the local authority decision than writing letters to the planning office |
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If a planning officer recommends refusal, in 95 per cent of cases the councillors will refuse planning consent |
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If the local parish council objects, then in 92 per cent of cases the councils will refuse consent |
Key conclusions |
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If a) the Planning Officer says that he/she will recommend refusal, or b) the local parish council objects, then you will almost certainly have to fight an appeal to stand a significant chance of winning approval |
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You must aim to win the backing of BOTH the planning officer and the local parish council if you are to have a ‘probable’ chance of consent at the local authority level |
Effective tactics |
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Lobbying the parish council |
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Campaigning in the local area and lobbying of local councillors by their electors |
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Offering a good stream of income to be put at the disposal of the local parish council |
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Early consultation (on the basis of firm proposals) gives a good idea of what is likely to happen in the formal planning procedure |
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Local ownership is almost certainly an effective general strategy on the basis of international experience and impressions in the UK, although numbers of locally inspired/owned schemes in the UK are simply too small (yet) to provide firm evidence |
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Dr David Toke (University of Birmingham) e mail toke1952@yahoo.co.uk |