The opportunity to build new and renewed onshore wind farms is set to be revived after the government said it would lift its de-facto ban. The decision will not be implemented immediately but the government has promised to launch a ‘technical consultation’ on changes to the National Planning Policy Framework ‘by Christmas’ and conclude it by the end of April 2023.
The consultation will explore how local authorities demonstrate local support and respond to views of their communities when considering onshore wind development in England. It will also consider how the planning system can support communities to have a say on the necessary infrastructure to connect wind farms to the grid and encourage the upgrading of existing wind farm sites.
Under the proposals, planning permission would be dependent on a project being able to demonstrate local support and satisfactorily address any impacts identified by the local community. New digital engagement techniques during the planning process will ensure people across the local community can continue to make their views known.
Local authorities would also have to demonstrate their support for certain areas as being suitable for onshore wind, moving away from rigid requirements for sites to be designated in local plans.
Changes introduced in 2016 made local councils responsible for onshore wind applications, instead of the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project regime, and this will remain in place. The government said, “Decisions on onshore wind sites will continue to be made at a local level as these are best made by local representatives who know their areas best and are democratically accountable to the local community”.
The government will also seek views on developing local partnerships for supportive communities, so that those who wish to host new onshore wind infrastructure can benefit from doing so, such as through lower energy bills.
Vattenfall’s Head of UK Onshore Development, Frank Elsworth, said: “If this is a genuine move which will put onshore wind on a level playing field with other infrastructure in England, it will send a very positive signal that the Government is serious about harnessing the benefits which onshore development can unleash for the environment , the economy, and communities.
“Vattenfall’s experience in England, Wales and Scotland has shown that people respond positively when they see the benefits which development brings in the form of investment, jobs, and support for local businesses. There doesn’t need to be a one-size-fits-all approach to community engagement – the most successful projects are those that enable communities to help shape the way the wind farm will benefit the surrounding area.”
Zoisa North-Bond, CEO of Octopus Energy Group’s generation arm, said: “Onshore wind is one of the cheapest and quickest forms of energy we can generate right here on our soil – and by removing the red tape, we can build it fast for communities that want it. We’re huge fans of onshore wind and so is the overwhelming majority of the British public*. Over 16,000 people have asked us for a wind turbine in their community. And through Winder, our digital match-making platform for wind, we’ve already identified 2.3GW of new onshore wind capacity with local support.”
RenewableUK’s CEO Dan McGrail said: “Lifting the de facto ban will mean we can generate more cheap power to help hard-pressed billpayers and cut our dependence on gas. Creating a level playing-field for onshore wind will boost our energy security while ensuring there is local support for new projects, and we look forward to working with Government and communities on the detail of a new approach.
“Backing onshore wind is one of the best solutions to the energy crisis, as projects can be up and running within a year of getting planning permission. Growing the UK’s onshore wind capacity could add £45bn to our economy, grow our domestic renewable supply chain and support the competitiveness of British business”.
Jess Ralston, Head of Energy at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) said: “The ban on onshore wind has been a seven year anomaly in UK energy policy, keeping household bills higher and the UK more dependent on foreign gas. Whether deployment speeds up will now come down to the detail of the planning rule changes. The next big planning call from the government will be the Cumbria coal mine. With the mine’s particular type of coal no use for the UK power or steel industries and the UK having led the global campaign to phase-out coal, a lot rides on Michael Gove’s decision.”