Report warns Pickles' messing in UK wind projects may deter investors

Dec 18, 2014 - The Communities and Local Government (CLG) Select Committee is warning that the UK Secretary of State’s significant intervention in onshore wind projects may chase away investors.

In a report published Tuesday, the committee points out that some wind farm projects have been in the planning system for over two years as a result of Eric Pickles’ actions. It is urging the British government to take action and speed up the process.

Since June 2013, Pickles has intervened in 52 onshore wind projects with a combined capacity of 527.88 MW, according to statistics by trade body RenewableUK. The Secretary of State has taken decisions on only 26 of these so far, rejecting 23 and approving 3. The 52 projects represent and investment of more than GBP 590 million (USD 919.6m/EUR 745.7m).

“We saw evidence that the Secretary of State was more likely to refuse renewable energy applications than those for other types of development,” the CLG committee says in its report. It is citing an analysis of 2013 recovery and call-in decisions, showing that 81.25% of housing projects were given the green light by the Secretary of State, while the success percentage for renewables is only 28.6%.

In written evidence to the CLG Select Committee, the Confederation of British Industry has said the intervention is affecting investor confidence in the renewable energy sector and “indicates a lack of trust by government in the planning profession to interpret policy and guidance appropriately”.

(GBP 1 = USD 1.559/EUR 1.264)

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