The Chancellor Rachel Reeves introduced on 8 July that the Authorities will reform the Nationwide Planning Coverage Framework earlier than the top of the month to finish the de facto ban on onshore wind in England.
The transfer fulfills an earlier promise to overturn the block on new initiatives inside Labour’s first weeks in energy. This had been a legacy of David Cameron’s authorities and its adjustment of the Nationwide Coverage Planning Framework which meant that even a single objection was sufficient to cease a venture from going by the planning levels.1
Secretary of State for Power Safety and Web Zero Ed Milliband mentioned on Twitter: “The onshore wind ban has been in place for nine years. We’ve been in government for 72 hours – we’ve lifted it. That’s the pace we’re going to move at.”
RenewableUK’s Chief Government Dan McGrail mentioned the transfer was “long overdue”, citing public help for onshore wind – “78% according to the latest official polling”.
“The onshore wind industry is committed to ensuring that communities are properly consulted about any proposals, including the wide range of economic benefits they will bring to local people. This process can take several years, including measures which help ensure that wildlife is protected, so it will be some time before brand new projects go ahead in England.”
Constructing wind farms is an undeniably resource-intensive endeavor, though industry initiatives to embed circular principles have been getting underway.
Dan McGrail’s assertion additionally mentioned: “Modern turbines are substantially more efficient and powerful than the turbines built in previous decades, so doubling the UK’s onshore wind capacity by 2030 won’t mean doubling the number of turbines in the UK. We can generate more power from fewer new turbines, and we can replace older turbines with far more powerful ones, making the most of our superb natural wind resources. Our research shows that delivering 30 gigawatts of onshore wind by the end of the decade would boost the economy by £45 billion and create 27,000 jobs”.
The Authorities additionally printed a policy statement to accompany the onshore wind announcement.
Notes
(1) https://eandt.theiet.org/2024/07/09/labour-lifts-nine-year-ban-onshore-wind-farms
