Planning as a process - the use of a draft environmental statement for consultation

Obtaining planning permission for a windfarm can be fraught with problems and difficulties throughout the planning process. However a recognition of the fact that it is a process can be of significant help in the ease of obtaining permissions. Key elements are to open the project for consultation at an early stage of its design process so that there are still choices about the project design, on which the consultation can take place. The draft Environmental Statement provides a valuable focus fro the process. This paper covers some of the experiences of using the Environmental Assessment process for consultation and involvement of local people and consultees in the process and indicates the benefits of such an approach. (Author)