4. How does the Welsh Government ensure that communities' voices are heard with regard to new energy production developments? OQ58393

Engagement and consultation are central to the planning process, and opportunities for communities to express their views on energy schemes are integral to both the preparation of development plans and the determination of planning applications.

Planning guidance is also critical when it comes to engagement. Given the fact that 'Future Wales' has set out an ambition for significant additional windfarms to be built onshore across the country, there are many communities now that are concerned about the potential impacts upon them, and indeed many businesses that are concerned about the potential impacts upon them, too. One such area is the area in the north of my constituency between Betws-yn-Rhos and Moelfre and as far down as Llanfair Talhaearn, where there is a proposal that is being brought forward by a windfarm company for turbines of up to 250m tall, which could be in very close proximity to people's homes. Given that there's no clear guidance from the Welsh Government on acceptable levels of noise, distance of turbines from property and the size of onshore wind turbines, does the Welsh Government intend to review the guidance that is available to developers, for local communities to hold developers to account through the planning process that now might follow? 

I understand there are often concerns when there are large infrastructure projects. I well remember the claims made when Gwynt y Môr was being developed by people in Llandudno claiming that visitors would stay away from the tourist destination, which has clearly proven to be unfounded. So, we should note there are people who are concerned. There are also people who are very supportive of renewable energy, not least now in the energy crisis we face, where wind is the easiest to deploy and the cheapest to commission. So, we certainly shouldn't turn our face against wind.

As you rightly say, we have set out pre-assessed areas for wind energy that establishes a presumption in favour of large-scale wind development. That doesn't, however, give a blank cheque to developers to put what they like there; they have to pass a series of checks that are set out in policy 18 of 'Future Wales', which includes noise. So, there are detailed criteria listed under that where they have to pass the test. Our officials will be making sure that the proposals are subject to acute examination, but there's no getting away from the fact that we do need to see far more wind deployed quickly if we are to meet both our need for energy security, but also for carbon neutrality. 

Huw Irranca-Davies is not here to ask question 5 [OQ58376]. Question 6, Peter Fox.