Planning Policy Statement 22: Renewable Energy

Abstract

"Planning Policy Statement 22: Renewable Energy (PPS22) () sets out the government's policies for renewable energy, which planning authorities should have regard to when preparing local development documents and when taking planning decisions. It establishes a number of fundamental principles and procedures in relation to planning and renewable energy. A fundamental principle embodied in PPS22 is that renewable energy developments should be capable of being accommodated throughout England in locations where the technology is viable and environmental, economic, and social impacts can be addressed satisfactorily. PPS22 places a number of requirements on local planning authorities including that spatial strategies and local development documents should contain policies designed to promote and encourage this (rather than restrict it); that criteria that will be applied in assessing applications for planning permission for renewable energy projects should be set out and that these should not contain unreasonable constraints (with Central government having powers to intervene); that wider environmental and economic benefits of renewable energy proposals are material considerations and are given appropriate weight in the decision-making process. In addition, it identifies that local planning authorities, regional stakeholders and Local Strategic Partnerships should foster community involvement in and acceptance of in renewable energy and that targets for renewable energy capacity in Regional Spatial Strategies should be established based on assessments of the resource potential and other factors. "