Planning applications will be considered by local planning authority officials, who will check that the proposed wind farm developments are in line with national, regional and local planning policies, before considering the Environmental Statement from the developers and the responses from public consultation. They will then make a recommendation to the planning committee, which is composed of local councillors who make the final decision. If the planning application is rejected the developer may wish to take their case to the relevant appeal body, which has the power to overrule the original decision if it considers that it:

• Was a significant departure from national, regional or local planning policy;

• Did not fairly assess the balance of national or local environmental, social or economic considerations.

A developer is also entitled to go to appeal following non-determination after the statutory period of eight weeks, or sixteen weeks for the applications where an EIA has been carried out.