East Suffolk Council Policies

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This is a summary extract from Policy WLP8.27 Renewable & Low Carbon Energy  from the East Suffolk District Wide Planning Policies document of 2019:

The Council is keen to support renewable energy developments and uses The National Planning Practice Guidance when determining applications for renewable and low carbon energy development.  

It is aware that these developments can have significant negative effects on the environment, including design, heritage, biodiversity and landscape. It is also aware that renewable and low carbon energy developments can have an affect on residents, visitors and workers nearby through noise, smell, shadow flicker and glare. They can also cause safety issues, such as distraction of drivers. 

They will permit proposals for schemes where it is in a suitable area for renewable and low carbon energy as identified in a Neighbourhood Plan. NOTE: there is no Neighbourhood Plan for Ilketshall St Andrew or Ilketshall St John.

Schemes, except wind energy schemes, will also be permitted where there are:

• no significant adverse effects on the amenities of nearby properties or businesses
• no adverse safety impacts and no significant adverse effects on the transport network. 

When the technology is no longer operational there is a requirement to decommission, remove the facility and complete a restoration of the site to its original condition. 

 This is a summary extract from Policy WLP8.34 – Biodiversity and Geodiversity

The Council will support development that maintains, restores or enhances the existing green infrastructure network and positively contributes towards biodiversity through the creation of new green infrastructure and improvement to linkages between habitats.
Proposals will not be supported if they have a direct or indirect adverse impact on locally recognised sites of biodiversity or geodiversity importance, including County Wildlife Sites, Biodiversity Action Plan habitats and species. Unless...It can be demonstrated that new opportunities to enhance the green infrastructure network will be provided to mitigate or compensate for this loss.
Where compensatory habitat is created, it needs to be:- equal or greater in size than the area lost due to the development;- be well located to positively contribute towards the green infrastructure network and biodiversity- be supported with a management plan.
If there is reason to suspect the presence of protected species or habitat, applications an ecological survey needs to be undertaken by a suitably qualified person. If present the proposal must be sensitive to, and make provision for their needs. .