Renewable energy developers are hoping the government will prevent a growing number of county councils from imposing wind farm buffer zones, which could severely restrict developments across the country.
Buffer zones are designed to prevent turbines from being installed too close to people's homes, but developers fear that stringent restrictions could effectively block the development of wind farms in potentially suitable locations.
At least eight local authorities in England either already have formal buffer zones in place or are seeking to mark out areas of up to two kilometres around residential properties where turbines cannot be built.
Lincolnshire County Council is among those seeking a buffer zone of 700 metres, and South Cambridgeshire has consulted on a 2km restriction, while Hampshire last week confirmed a blanket ban on new wind farms built on council land.
Stratford on Avon District Council, Northumberland County Council, Cherwell District Council, Wiltshire Council, Milton Keynes and Rutland also have buffer zones planned or imposed already.
Meanwhile, the Scottish Conservative Party yesterday launched a report calling for councils to be given the power to end the "march of the wind farms".
The wide-ranging paper, says councils should have to power to impose a one year moratorium on new wind turbine developments in Scotland, and encourages them to enforce existing planning guidance restricting wind farms that are closer than 2km to residential areas.
The document also calls for a 50 per cent cut in the subsidy for onshore wind farms and greater "local democracy" in planning decisions, at the same time as calling for more investment in shale gas exploration and nuclear power plants.
However, renewable energy developers have warned that buffer zones are too blunt a tool for ensuring governments strike the right balance between encouraging renewable energy generation and giving communities a voice.
Jenny Hogan, director of policy for Scottish Renewables, pointed out that the Scottish Government's existing 2km guideline was designed to ensure that each wind farm application was judged on its own merits.
"The 2km proposal is a guideline and not a rule," she said. "This is an important distinction because it's imperative that communities, developers and decision makers are given the opportunity to make the case for or against any application. This avoids recommendations being made on the basis of imposed rules which may not be relevant to local circumstances."
Jennifer Webber, of RenewableUK, also warned that proposals for buffer zones across the UK were creating uncertainty among both developers and their suppliers over the future of wind energy in certain regions.
RWE has already threatened Milton Keynes with legal action over the council's decision to increase an existing 350m buffer zone to 600m-1km zone depending on the size of the turbine.
The utility, which has two wind farms that could fall in the new buffer zone, maintains the proposed rules clash with national guidance that sets out the need for renewable energy, as well as Milton Keynes Council's own existing policies on wind energy.
Developers are now hoping that the Planning Inspectorate will refuse to give the go-ahead to new buffer zones, when local authorities submit their Local Plans for approval in March.
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