On average it takes over three years for a wind farm application to be determined, the longest planning timelines of any region of these islands.

This puts NI at a significant competitive disadvantage.

Ahead of a Assembly debate today, RenewableNI wrote to all MLAs on the key problems and our proposed solutions.

We would like to see:

✅ Decisions on renewable applications within one year

✅ DfI to take decisions without referral to the PAC

✅ External commissioners brought in to clear PAC backlog

✅ Hard deadline for statutory consultee responses

✅ Resourcing of statutory consultees

✅ Training for planners to keep up to speed with developments in technology.

You can read to two page briefing “NI Planning Process; Problems and Solutions” here.

If you would like to dicuss renewable planning issues, please contact Dagny Ahrend, Dagny.Ahrend@RenewableNI.com, 07961-159-536.