Pre- and post-installation community perceptions of wind farm projects: The case of Roskrow Barton (Cornwall, UK)

Abstract

This study analyses community perceptions towards wind power using a case study of an operational wind farm (Roskrow Barton, Cornwall) to test current debates about pre- and post-acceptance opinions of affected stakeholders. Community members and affected stakeholders were interviewed to assess perceptions towards the development before and after the wind farm became operational. The results suggest that community perceptions towards the wind farm were influenced by a range of environmental, socio-economic and socio-political variables, but also that community opinion changes considerably over time. Although negative perceptions can be found both pre- and post-installation, collectively the community have become used to the turbines and that attitudes have generally become more favourable. The outcomes add to existing 'before and after wind turbine' studies which show that fears of living near a wind farm at least partly dispel over time, although a more nuanced pathway of acceptance emerges than suggested in other studies who suggested a generalised U-shaped development of attitudes. The results from this study suggest more complex, multi-layered and nuanced community responses to wind farms, with slightly different 'acceptance curves' for individual areas of concern including visual intrusion, noise, property price impacts, economic benefits to the community, and environmental impacts.