Assessment and rating of wind turbine noise guidance: proposed updates
- From:
- Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
- Published
- 4 July 2025
- Last updated
- 19 June 2026 — See all updates
Read the full outcome
Detail of outcome
This consultation ran for 8 weeks from 4 July to 29 August 2025 and received 79 valid responses from stakeholders.
The consultation sought views on updates to existing best practice guidance for the assessment and rating of noise from wind turbines. The consultation sought views on decibel-level noise limits and guidance on amplitude modulation, as well as other technical updates including but not limited to sections on ‘financially involved’ receptors and on cumulative impacts.
The government response to this consultation summarises feedback and sets out decisions on what updates are being taken forward. Final, updated guidance for the assessment and rating of noise from wind turbines has now been published.
Updated guidance should be used by developers of onshore wind planning applications and planning authorities across the UK when making and considering assessments of noise from wind turbines. Updated guidance replaces the previous guidance – known as ETSU-R-97 – which should no longer be applied.
Original consultation
Summary
We're seeking views on updates to guidance on the assessment of noise from onshore wind turbines across the UK.
This consultation closesran atfrom
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Consultation description
Technical guidance for the assessment of noise emissions from onshore wind turbines provides advice to local authorities across the UK on:
- appraising planning applications for onshore wind developments
- aiding deployment of suitable onshore wind developments
- ensuring noise impacts are robustly controlled
The existing guidance dates back to 1996. In 2023, a government commissioned independent scoping review indicated that it would benefit from updating.
We have worked closely with acoustic experts and leading scientists to produce these proposed updates which aim to align the guidance with:
- available evidence
- developments in turbine technology and wind turbine noise assessment methodologies
- government policies on noise and net zero
This consultation seeks views on the proposed updates.
It is likely to be of particular interest to those with previous experience in the measurement and assessment of wind turbine noise, including (but not limited to):
- the energy industry
- local planning authorities
- project developers
Please respond using the online response form where possible. Use the email address for queries only, or if you need to respond using an alternative method.
Local planning authorities should not use this draft guidance in relation to ongoing planning applications: continue to use the existing guidance until we issue a government response to this consultation.
Read our consultation privacy notice.
Documents
Draft updated guidance: Assessment and rating of wind turbine noise
PDF, 1.07 MB, 48 pages
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Updates to this page
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Published the government response to this consultation.
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First published.
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Update history
2026-06-19 12:00
Published the government response to this consultation.
2025-07-04 15:24
First published.