The Government’s supported feed-in tariff (FiT) incentive scheme launched in April 2010, which sought to increase the delivery of photovoltaic installations, has fallen victim of its own success with the Government announcing a Review of the rates applied to the tariff.

The Department of the Energy and Climate Change announced a fast track Review in February 2011 of all schemes over 50kW, which would result in a significant cut in the level of tariff available for commercial solar farms, taking effect from 1st August 2011.

The success of the FiT in the delivery of new solar installations had resulted in a large influx of large scale solar farm schemes into the planning system, with an estimated 169MB worth of planning applications being considered at the time of the Review announcement. In the absence of any formal planning guidance for the delivery of such installations a number of Local Authorities have committed resources to the hasty preparation of Supplementary Planning Documents and developing a skill base to help assess any associated planning applications, with Cornwall Council leading the way.

The Climate Change Minister’s announcement identified that the FiT was intended to promote the delivery of small scale domestic installations rather than renewable energy business. Whilst benefits of all renewable energy installations are evident in providing low carbon energy alternatives, the preference for subsidising small scale installations over larger scale provision may be less clear in achieving climate change objectives. The tangible benefits starting to be evidenced as a result of the FiT in large scale provision prior to the Review are high relative to the expenditure committed to the advancement of the alternative forms of energy; the Nuclear Programme for example.

The short term shifts and misplaced projections for the provision of support for renewable energy developments also has a marked impact on the planning system. The preparation of Supplementary Planning Documents, the commitment of Officer resources and training has been significant for many Local Authorities since April 2010, when there was little policy guidance or experience across England and Wales relating to the delivery of similar types of development. The Review has resulted in the speedy and significant demise of many of the proposals. Whilst the experience will remain, the short term shift in renewable energy policy and government support will continue to impact on the planning industry which will be required to react efficiently to future changes. It is therefore essential that skills are developed to ensure that both private and public sectors can develop an appropriate policy framework which is capable of responding at the pace of the market, limiting the delivery of ad hoc and ill conceived proposals. The pragmatic and proactive approach taken by Hunter Page Planning to the delivery of renewable energy enables us to be well placed to assist in the rapid shifts in delivery.