We operate a 'good neighbour' policy and aim to cause as little disruption to local communities around our sites as possible. Information boards are set up whenever there is any work on-site, and any issue or complaint is dealt with quickly and responsibly.

Wind power

We have a rigorous process of consultation relating to the selection of sites for wind power.

Despite the fact that public opinion surveys show consistently that around three-quarters of people support the further development of onshore wind schemes, new proposals can attract strong feelings on both sides. The visual impact of a scheme tends to be the main issue that polarises opinion at the pre-planning stage so in choosing potential wind farm sites we aim to 'design out' potential issues as early as possible. In assessing a location we will look at its distance from residential housing, the proximity of environmentally sensitive sites and special areas like National Parks, as well as a host of other technical criteria such as access routes and the availability of a connection to the electricity grid.

Having established the basic feasibility of a scheme we then actively consult with the relevant authorities, as well as local communities and groups such as wildlife trusts, to establish their key issues and concerns. A typical scheme design goes through a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), carried out in line with the EIA Regulations. This process typically takes around 18 months, and involves close liaison with the local authority and other stakeholders to ensure that the scope and implementation of the assessment is up to the required standard. During this phase many additional studies will be carried out, eg bird migration studies, archaeological studies and ecology studies. Many projects fail to meet EIA criteria and we do not progress them any further.

For those projects that do make the grade, the next step is to host formal public exhibitions to present the draft planning application proposal to local communities and invite their comments. These exhibitions are held for every new development, over several days and at various times to ensure maximum exposure. We also publicise these events well in advance, via door-to-door leaflet drops in local communities and broader advertising in local press and other media. The exhibition itself usually includes an Energy Efficiency stand (or even a separate Energy Efficiency Workshop) to raise awareness of and reinforce E.ON UK's green credentials. We have also developed a new interactive exhibition stand which explains the concepts behind renewable energy production. Wherever possible, feedback from these exhibitions is incorporated into the design that eventually goes into planning.