To ask the Minister for Infrastructure to detail the extent to which visual impact is a consideration in determining regionally significant planning applications concerning the erection of wind turbines.

Planning policy is a material planning consideration which must be taken into account in the determination of all planning applications, including those which are regionally significant. Regional planning policy for renewable energy development in Northern Ireland is contained within the Strategic Planning Policy Statement (SPPS) and Policy RE 1 of Planning Policy Statement 18 – Renewable Energy. PPS 18 is also accompanied by a Supplementary Planning Guidance document entitled ‘Wind Energy Development in Northern Ireland Landscapes’.

Both the SPPS and PPS 18 advise that development that generates energy from renewable resources will be permitted where the proposal and any associated buildings and infrastructure, will not result in an unacceptable adverse impact on a number of planning considerations which includes visual amenity and landscape character.

Accordingly, the assessment of visual impacts is a significant consideration in the determination of all regionally significant applications for wind energy developments.