Report from National Wind Watch - click here to read the article.

Action groups and campaigners have welcomed new Government measures giving local people the final say on wind turbine proposals.

A written ministerial statement made on Thursday by Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Greg Clark said that from now on, when determining planning applications for wind energy development involving one or more turbines, local planning authorities should only grant permission if

* The development site is in an area identified as suitable for wind energy development in a Local or Neighbourhood Plan, and;

* Following consultation, it can be demonstrated that the planning impacts identified by affected local communities have been fully addressed and therefore the proposal has their backing.

The Government has also announced that new onshore windfarms will be excluded from a subsidy scheme from April 1, 2016 – a year earlier than planned.