Actions for developers
Communities, developers, local councils and devolved government all have a role to play in strengthening community benefit in Northern Ireland.
The Fermanagh Trust makes a series of recommendations as to how developers can do so (updated February 2015):
- Community Benefit Funds – local communities should be offered by developers a minimum value of at least £5,000 per MW of installed capacity per annum for the lifetime of the project (index-linked), as outlined in the guidance protocols developed by Fermanagh, Omagh and Strabane District Councils.
- Developers should consider offering some form of community ownership as part of a community benefits package at their sites.
- Develop clear protocols on effective community engagement for wind farm developments.