Commercial Renewable Energy Development and the Historic Environment

This Historic England Advice Note describes the potential impacts on the historic environment of commercial renewable energy proposals, which could occupy large areas of land or sea. It is written for all of those involved in commercial renewable energy development, helping them to give appropriate consideration to heritage issues.

Technologies covered include large-scale development proposals for wind power, solar photovoltaics (PV) and biomass and energy from waste (EfW). Not all biomass and EfW is renewable; however, at least a proportion of the energy generated by some facilities that burn biomass and waste is considered renewable, depending on the design of the facility and the characteristics of its fuel supply.

The Advice Note includes consideration of Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs). Also it covers other large-scale proposals that do not meet the criteria for inclusion in the NSIP regime, but which require assessment under Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) regulations to determine what harm might be caused, including to cultural heritage, and whether this can be avoided or reduced.