Wind energy development - Find a freedom of information request

1. Does the council have a Local Plan, which has been developed and/or updated in the past seven years (i.e. from January 2016 to date)?

2. Has any area(s) been identified as suitable for wind energy development in the latest Local Plan?

3. Has the council explicitly considered and has been unable to identify a suitable area for wind energy development in the latest Local Plan?

4. Does the council have a Neighbourhood Plan(s), which has been developed and/or updated in the past seven years (i.e. from January 2016 to date)?

5. Has any area(s) been identified as suitable for wind energy development in the latest Neighbourhood Plan?

6. Has the council explicitly considered and has been unable to identify a suitable area for wind energy development in the latest Neighbourhood Plan?

7. Please confirm how many (if any) onshore wind farm applications have been granted planning approval by the local authority during the past seven years (i.e. January 2016 to date)?

8. Please confirm how many (if any) solar farm (i.e. large-scale ground-mounted solar PV system) applications have been granted planning approval by the local authority during the past seven years (i.e. January 2016 to date)?

9. Further, can you kindly provide a copy of the latest

a. Local Plan and

b. Neighbourhood Plan and

c. confirm which sections (or pages) relate to the identification (or non-identification) of suitable areas for wind energy development?

1. Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) is a statutory partner in preparing the Central Lincolnshire and South East Lincolnshire Local Plans. The Central Lincolnshire Local Plan was adopted in April 2017 and the South East Lincolnshire Local Plan was adopted in March 2019.

2. The Central Lincolnshire Local Plan is currently under review and has included areas suitable for wind energy in the proposed submission Local Plan. https://www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/central-lincolnshire/local-plan-review/ None have been identified in the South East Lincolnshire Local Plan.

3. LCC has objected to the inclusion of wind energy maps in the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan.

4. It is the responsibility of parish councils and town wards to develop Neighbourhood Plans, not local authorities.

5. See response to question four.

6. See response for question four.

7. LCC does not grant planning permission for onshore wind farm applications. This is the responsibility of district councils.

8. LCC does not grant planning permission for solar farm applications. This is the responsibility of district councils.

9. See response for question two.