The scale of the Fullabrook wind farm proposal i.e. 66 MW, is such that the application for development has been submitted to the Department of Trade and Industry for determination under Section 36 of the 1989 Electricity Act.

The DTI administers the provisions of the Electricity Act 1989 for developers seeking development consents from the Secretary of State for the construction of electricity generating stations which will generate over 50 MW (onshore) or 1 MW and over (offshore) in England and Wales.

The following timetable to achieve electricity generation from the Fullabrook wind farm takes into account Local Planning Authority objections to the proposal.

Section 36-application submission to DTI – 28 September 2004
Anticipated Section 36 Inquiry – Spring 2006
Anticipated DTI determination – Autumn 2006
Anticipated on site start – Autumn 2007
Anticipated site completion and electricity generation – Autumn 2008.

Research by British Wind Energy Association (Wind Energy and Planning an Overview: www.bwea.com/planning) shows that the UK is in danger of missing the 2010 renewable energy target unless the time taken for planning decisions to be made on new wind farm proposals is speeded up. The research established that to achieve the Government’s 2010 renewable energy target an additional 2,168 MW of consented onshore wind is needed. The majority of planning consents must be in place by 2007 to deliver the projects on time; 1,927MW must therefore be consented within the next 3 years.

BWEA identified the presence of 767 MW of currently installed wind generating capacity with planning consent awarded for a further 1,306 MW, from both on and offshore projects. On the basis of this an additional 2,168 MW of onshore capacity needs to be consented by 2007 if onshore wind is to meet its expected contribution to the 2010 target.