Government clears way for English onshore wind

The UK government’s proposed changes do not go far enough to address the “defacto ban” which current planning rules have imposed on new onshore wind developments, according to RenewableUK.

The trade group’s Head of Onshore Wind James Robottom said: “The proposed changes don’t go far enough.

“We will still face a planning system stacked against onshore wind that treats it differently to every other energy source or infrastructure project.

“A lot will be open to interpretation and there are still hurdles to navigate which remain in place.”

He said that while industry will work with government to see how these changes might be able to support a limited number of new developments, an opportunity has been missed to “reinvigorate onshore wind in England after eight years of lost progress”. 

Robottom added: “It’s clear that a significant number of Conservative MPs support holding the government to its promise to end the ban on onshore wind, and opposition parties are clear in their support for more significant planning reform.

“We need to build on this emerging cross-party consensus to develop a planning system that is fit for purpose, which supports communities who choose to host clean cheap energy projects, as well as our industry’s ability to invest in them.”

The government’s new measures, announced today, include broadening the ways that suitable locations can be identified, including by communities, and speeding up the process of allocating sites by giving alternatives to the local plan process.

This will mean local policy on onshore wind continues to be decided by elected councillors, accountable to local people, and plans are taken forward where they can demonstrate support and address planning impacts identified by the community.

London has consulted on proposals for improved benefits and rewards for communities backing onshore wind farms and will set out next steps this autumn.

Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Michael Gove said: “To increase our energy security and develop a cleaner, greener economy, we are introducing new measures to allow local communities to back onshore wind power projects.

“This will only apply in areas where developments have community support, but these changes will help build on Britain’s enormous success as a global leader in offshore wind, helping us on our journey to net zero.”

Secretary of State for Energy Secretary and Net Zero, Claire Coutinho said: “The Energy Bill is the most significant piece of energy legislation in a generation and will help us provide a cleaner, cheaper and more secure energy system for the UK.

“Renewables are a crucial part of our energy transition.”

The announcement comes as the Energy Bill returns to Parliament, the most significant piece of energy legislation in a generation.

The government will respond in full to the National Planning Policy Framework later this year.

Founder and chief executive of Ripple Energy Sarah Merrick said: “We welcome the overturning of the ban on onshore wind, it’s been a long time coming.

“It is key that local communities, as well as consumers more broadly, can directly benefit from the green low-cost power from wind farms near them.

“Ripple has already shown people-owned wind farms work, now it’s time to roll these out across England.

“Households across the country must be able to own and directly benefit from the clean energy transition.”

Andy Fewings, Energy & Renewables Partner at Bidwells, one of the UK’s largest property consultancies that is currently overseeing 4.2GW of onshore wind projects and is responsible for managing the Crown Estate Scotland’s marine assets, said: “Today’s announcement doesn’t come as a surprise because the government’s current position, a defacto ban on Onshore wind, has been untenable for two key reasons – UK’s energy security and household bills (particularly in a cost of living crisis).

“The de-facto ban on onshore wind farm development would mean that, at the current pace of development, it would take the UK 4690 years to increase its onshore capacity by 30GW – a target the government wants to reach in just seven years.”