For what reasons if any can on-shore wind farm development take place in areas outside those mapped in policy 17 – pre-assessed areas for wind energy?
Within the Pre-Assessed Areas (PAAs) the Welsh Government has already modelled the likely impact of wind farm development on the landscape and has found these areas to be capable of accommodating development in an acceptable way. There is a presumption in favour of large-scale wind energy in the PAAs subject to consideration against criteria 2 to 11 of Future Wales Policy 18.
Outside the PAAs wind farm proposals must provide evidence that the development does not have an unacceptable adverse impact on the surrounding landscape and are considered against criteria 1 to 11 of Future Wales Policy 18. If an on-shore wind development is consented outside of a PAA it will be because, after detailed examination, it is deemed acceptable in the context of national planning policy.
Future Wales Policy 17 states that large-scale wind (and solar) is not permitted in National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Schemes outside of the PAAs in these areas would be refused.