To ask the Minister for Infrastructure to detail any assessment her Department has made of whether the current planning policy for wind energy development, adequately reflects (i) the increased height and scale of modern turbines; (ii) cumulative landscape and visual impacts; (iii) proximity to residential communities; and (iv) the concentration of developments within particular areas.

My Department’s Strategic Planning Policy Statement, Edition 2 (SPPS), which incorporates revised regional strategic planning policy on renewable and low carbon energy, was published in December 2025, following a comprehensive policy review process, and Executive Committee agreement to the revised policy.

The revised policy provides an updated, contemporary policy framework for plan-making and decision-taking within the two-tier planning system. It has repositioned regional planning policy within the context of the Executive’s Energy Strategy and the Climate Change (NI) Act 2022. It has also taken into account technological changes and advancements in this field, as well as the views of stakeholders. The revised policy requires careful balancing of local impacts with the wider environmental, economic and social benefits and it guards against development proposals which would result in unacceptable adverse impacts (alone or in combination with other developments). Planning authorities are required to consider key planning considerations, such as the potential impacts of individual proposals on residential amenity, visual amenity and landscape character, including cumulative impact. Paragraph 6.233 of the SPPS specifically addresses the importance of siting and cumulative landscape and visual impacts of all renewable energy developments.

For wind farm development separation distances will be assessed on a case-by-case basis with a minimum separation distance to occupied property not less than 500m, generally applying. When bringing forward their Local Development Plans, Councils will prepare local planning policies and supplementary planning guidance, where appropriate, to reflect the particular circumstances of their local area. In doing so, councils must take account of the SPPS.

I am satisfied that my Department’s revised regional strategic planning policy on renewable and low carbon energy provides an up-to-date and appropriate framework for the consideration of wind energy development.