New guidelines considered – Motherwell Times

South Lanarkshire Council is looking at changing its planning guidelines to
cope with “repowering”.

It is going to consult renewable energy operators and developers,
associated community councils and other interested third parties on Tall
Wind Turbines, those above 150 metres high, to look at new guidelines.

Councillors on the planning committee were told South Lanarkshire already
has a number of wind energy developments, which restricted its capacity for
development.

In a report executive director Michael McGlynn said: “Repowering of
existing wind farms is also likely to become more prevalent and
increasingly taller turbines are now being considered when developers are
both assessing the repowering of existing developments or new wind energy
developments.

“In June 2015, the UK Government announced the end to all financial support
for onshore wind energy developments. As a result, many wind energy
developments that have obtained planning consent, but are not yet built and
are unable to access subsidies, are now considered unviable.

“Developers are, therefore, reviewing these consents and to increase the
yield from these wind energy developments, they are proposing to increase
the height of turbines and revise their layout.”