The Law!
Can they just go ahead and build the turbines?
No, they can't. Planning permission is required.
Is there a law about the distance between turbines and houses?
The short answer is no. “There is no minimum separation distance in English planning law or guidance." Instead, the planning process considers the distances between turbines and nearby properties in relation to guidelines covering noise. Find out more about noise.
How do we compare to other countries?
Many countries recommend minimum distances between large wind turbines and properties. For example, “Scotland suggests 2 km separation, largely because of the visual effect, and Wales 500 metres.” “Denmark is one of the most successful countries in the development of onshore wind power… if Danish rules applied…many householders would become liable for compensation for loss of property value.”
Will I be compensated if my property drops in value?
No. Currently "There is no compensation for those living near a wind farm."
What about noise?
There are published guidelines regarding wind farm noise. For an explanation of these, please visit our noise page. The government has recently commissioned further research on the impact of noise, but it is not known when this will be published.
What is the current government’s policy?
The current coalition government is strongly in favour of renewable energy projects, including wind power. However, early this year, the Conservatives indicated that wind farms are not appropriate in places where local communities object strongly: “On-shore wind farms are not appropriate in all settings: local community consent is vital, and applications will need to be considered in the light of the possible impact on the local environment.”(link)
Is the law going to change in the future?
A bill was recently introduced in the House of Lords which aims to set minimum distances between turbines and residential properties. This minumum distances would depend on the size of the turbines.
What are the guidelines about noise?
These are set out in a document called ETSU-R-97. This specifies that in general the noise generated by a wind turbine should be no louder than 5db above background noise. So for example, if the background noise is 40db, residents may hear 45db of noise including the turbines. Remember that an increase of 10db sounds like a doubling of the volume. However, in quiet areas, different rules apply. ETSU-R-97 recommends a daytime limit of between 35-40 dBA. At night however, the limit is 43dBA. Incredibly, this means that turbines are allowed to create more noise at night than during the day.
What problems are there with these guidelines?
There have been a large number of objections to ETSU-R-97. For example:
No, they can't. Planning permission is required.
Is there a law about the distance between turbines and houses?
The short answer is no. “There is no minimum separation distance in English planning law or guidance." Instead, the planning process considers the distances between turbines and nearby properties in relation to guidelines covering noise. Find out more about noise.
How do we compare to other countries?
Many countries recommend minimum distances between large wind turbines and properties. For example, “Scotland suggests 2 km separation, largely because of the visual effect, and Wales 500 metres.” “Denmark is one of the most successful countries in the development of onshore wind power… if Danish rules applied…many householders would become liable for compensation for loss of property value.”
Will I be compensated if my property drops in value?
No. Currently "There is no compensation for those living near a wind farm."
What about noise?
There are published guidelines regarding wind farm noise. For an explanation of these, please visit our noise page. The government has recently commissioned further research on the impact of noise, but it is not known when this will be published.
What is the current government’s policy?
The current coalition government is strongly in favour of renewable energy projects, including wind power. However, early this year, the Conservatives indicated that wind farms are not appropriate in places where local communities object strongly: “On-shore wind farms are not appropriate in all settings: local community consent is vital, and applications will need to be considered in the light of the possible impact on the local environment.”(link)
Is the law going to change in the future?
A bill was recently introduced in the House of Lords which aims to set minimum distances between turbines and residential properties. This minumum distances would depend on the size of the turbines.
What are the guidelines about noise?
These are set out in a document called ETSU-R-97. This specifies that in general the noise generated by a wind turbine should be no louder than 5db above background noise. So for example, if the background noise is 40db, residents may hear 45db of noise including the turbines. Remember that an increase of 10db sounds like a doubling of the volume. However, in quiet areas, different rules apply. ETSU-R-97 recommends a daytime limit of between 35-40 dBA. At night however, the limit is 43dBA. Incredibly, this means that turbines are allowed to create more noise at night than during the day.
What problems are there with these guidelines?
There have been a large number of objections to ETSU-R-97. For example:
- The rules were published in 1996… but in those days turbines were much, much smaller than today.
- The rules assume that problems with noise are only caused by how loud it is… but there is no consideration given to other factors, such as the type of noise and the duration of the noise. However, we all know that some types of noise are much more irritating than others.
- The rules state that it is only necessary to measure wind speeds up to 12 metres per second… but they ignore the fact that faster wind speeds may cause turbines to generate more noise.
- The rules state that wind speed should be measured at a height of 10 metres… but modern wind turbines can be 125 metres high.
- The rules are about audible sound… but completely ignore the problem of infrasound.
- The methods used to calculate noise levels from wind turbines are not appropriate. The rules specify a special measurement called “LA90,10min” Here’s how it works: The noise levels are measured over a 10 minute period. The noisiest 90% of this time is ignored completely, leaving only the quietest 10% of the data. The noise level is then calculated as being the loudest noise in this quiet period. “the wind turbines could be making a noise like a jet plane taking off in next door's garden for nine out of every ten minutes. LA90, 10min would ignore that and characterise the noise based on the remaining one quiet minute.”
- The rules recommend that noise limits are set in relation to the nearest properties… but some types of noise are actually difficult to measure close to wind farms, and more noticeable a little further away, at distances of over 500 metres.
- The rules assume that background noise will help mask the noise of turbines. However, the type of noise produced by turbines is of a completely different type to normal background noise, so may not be masked.