Aspire appoints green planning consultant as farm-based renewable energy applications soar

Aspire Planning has appointed planning consultant Lewis Knight to help handle a huge increase in renewable energy applications from farmers.

The Bristol-based consultancy, which advises landowners seeking planning permission for wind turbines and solar parks, has seen business boom as farmers rush to invest in green technology.

Lewis, 26, who recently completed a masters degree in town and country planning at the University of the West of England, will work with landowners keen to take advantage of government feed-in tariffs. The scheme offers farmers guaranteed payments for every surplus unit of electricity produced by wind or solar power.

Prior to joining Aspire Planning, Lewis worked as a researcher for The Rent Service, an executive agency of the Department for Work and Pensions, which provides property valuations for local authorities.

James Davis, managing director of Aspire Planning, said: We are delighted to welcome Lewis to the team at such an exciting time for the business.

The high level of subsidies for farmers is only available at its current rate until April 2012. This has sparked huge demand for our specialist planning services from landowners wanting to get their applications approved before the deadline.

Lewis will play an important role in helping us deal with this big increase in renewable planning applications.

• Aspire Planning is an independent business offering a renewable energy planning consultancy service to householders and landowners throughout the UK. We have offices in Bristol, Taunton and Weston-super-Mare.
• Our team has extensive experience of obtaining planning permission for small and medium-sized wind turbines and solar parks. We can provide clients considering renewable technologies with detailed feasibility studies, business plans and planning analysis. We can also recommend the most suitable technology, based on location, budget, and ability to benefit from the feed-in tariff.
• Aspire Planning works with a wide range of clients including householders, landowners and farmers, renewable energy providers, commercial and residential developers, architects, surveyors, designers and other professional service organisations.