Bill to control siting of wind turbines near homes
Mid Worcestershire MP Peter Luff is urging Parliament to back new legislation to control the siting of wind turbines near dwellings. He has made the case for a private member’s Bill under the 10-minute rule procedure. Before the debate in the Commons he said: “Government policy on this issue is vague, giving little protection to local communities who have legitimate objections to the building of these turbines in their area.” The Conservative MP added: “companies appear to comply with a voluntary ‘buffer zone’ but this has no legal force”.
He told MPs: “My Bill would specify minimum distances between turbines of certain dimensions and the nearest house. I propose that there should be no specific restriction on turbines below 25 metres in height, while wind turbines up to 50 metres high should not be located closer than half a mile to a home. Larger wind turbines up to 100 metres high should be at least a mile away, and the largest – those above 100 metres – should be at least one and a half miles from any home.”
He added: “There would be an important exception where the residents of homes within the buffer zone agreed to the construction of the turbines.”
