Charles Hendry’s new approach to on-shore wind farms has won the approval of Good Energy. Yesterday the Minister said he would encourage local people to have more of a say in wind farm development and they should keep some of the revenue generated in their area.

He said: “There needs to be a new relationship between wind farms and the communities which host them. At present, too often a community can see what it will lose by having a windfarm in its midst, but it cannot see what it gains.Our localism proposals will mean that communities – through their elected councillors – will decide for themselves how they should develop.

“The Localism Bill also ensures developers and local communities talk to each other much earlier so local needs can be factored in as proposals shape up and local benefits – such as new jobs and new skills training – can be built into proposals for development.”

Juliet Davenport, Good Energy’s CEO, agreed:”Onshore wind projects will only succeed if the local community is informed, consulted and involved from the beginning of every proposed development, so we think Charles Hendry’s proposals make good sense.

“It’s right that local communities should share the benefits of living near wind farms.”