RenewableUK has condemned the unprecedented interference of the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Eric Pickles in renewable energy projects in England. He has now intervened in 50 wind farm planning applications since June 2013, taking decisions personally projects means higher bills for UK consumers, goes against public demand for renewable energy instead of allowing locally elected councillors and planning inspectors to do so. To date, these projects would have added 520 megawatts of clean energy capacity to local communities from Cornwall to Northumberland – enough to power more than 275,000 English homes. These projects would have been worth a total of £581 million to the economy, creating 2,186 jobs. Of the 50 pulled in by the Secretary of State, decisions have been reached on 19 projects, with all but two refused. Five of the projects turned down by Mr. Pickles had previously been recommended for approval by the Planning Inspectorate, a non-executive agency of the Department for Communities and Local Government. RenewableUK’s Deputy Chief Executive Maf Smith said, “Fifty interventions in onshore wind, and holds back action on climate change. These sites would have meant half a billion pounds in local investment creating over 2,000 jobs. Eric Pickles is clearly relaxed about such unprecedented intervention in the planning system. He has politicised what should be an independent and impartial planning system with 98% of wind farm appeals are now being decided by Mr. Pickles himself. His guiding principle seems to be do what localism – as long as you I say”.

To read more go to: http://www.renewableuk.com/en/news/press-releases.cfm/renewableuk-condemns-pickles-50th-intervention-in-a-wind-farm-application