The UK government has committed itself to an ambitious target for reductions in carbon emissions, with a target of achieving a 60% reduction in emissions by 2050.

There are a number of initiatives aimed at contributing to this, but one key element of this is to reduce carbon emissions from energy production, by developing renewable sources of energy, with a recommendation that 20% of the UK’s electricity should be generated from renewable sources by 2020.

Prime among these is wind power, which has a high level of popular support.

However, there is also considerable opposition to onshore (and to a lesser extent) offshore wind farms. A number of reasons are put forward by those opposed to them, but the negative impact on residential property values is often put forward.

This RICS Education Trust funded study by Peter Dent and Dr Sally Sims of Oxford Brookes University, UK, tested this on a number of sites in Cornwall.

Despite initial evidence that there was an effect, when they investigated more closely, there were generally other factors which were more significant than the presence of a wind farm.

Insofar as there was any impact on prices, the results seem to show that it is most noticeable for terraced and semi-detached houses, with there being a significant impact on properties located within a mile of a wind farm.

The effect seems much less marked – if at all – for detached houses.

The research also highlighted that, to some extent, wind farm developers are themselves avoiding the problem by locating their developments in places where the impact on prices is minimised, carefully choosing their sites to avoid any negative impact on the locality.

To read the report in full, please see the PDF top right of page.