South Wales Central AM Leanne Wood has asked for planning rules and regulations to be uniform across Welsh local authorities in order to remove the confusion and red tape surrounding micro-generation.
Leanne, who is Plaid Cymru’s spokesperson on Sustainability in the Welsh Assembly, questioned First Minister Carwyn Jones during plenary about the obstacles currently deterring environmental energy projects.
The question follows a meeting, on behalf of party colleague Helen Mary Jones, with a group from the Gwendraeth Valley who complained of being frustrated by bureaucracy during various attempts to get projects off the ground.
One of the main criticisms from the group was that planning rules governing wind, solar and hydro energy instalments, varied greatly between local authorities.
In her question, Leanne said: “Global warming arguably poses the greatest single challenge for Governments across the world, and that cutting our emissions must be made a priority.”
She added: “Is there any guidance that the Welsh Assembly Government could issue to local authorities in order to simplify the planning process and ensure consistency across local authorities, so that we encourage micro-generation projects rather than deter them?”
In reply, Mr Jones said: “The Minister is considering a draft consultation paper on this topic.”
He added: “The aim is to issue that this Easter, and the proposals in the paper will extend the types of micro-generation equipment that householders can install without planning permission, and provide new permitted development rights for a wide range of installations at non-domestic premises.”
