UK Government Lifts Ban on Onshore Wind
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Partner
UK
I am a projects and regulatory partner and Chair and Co-Head of International Energy & Utilities Sector Group focused on energy innovation. My work has taken me around the globe.
Labour's election manifesto pledged to decarbonise the UK's electricity grid by 2030. This has commenced with Chancellor Rachel Reeves announcing the immediate removal of the de facto ban on onshore wind projects, in place since 2015. The move is part of the new Labour government’s plan to double onshore wind energy capacity by 2030. The initiative aims to bolster the nation's energy security, reduce household energy bills, generate high-skilled jobs, and mitigate the climate crisis.
Overhauling Planning Policies
The de facto ban was introduced nine years ago through two footnotes in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), the regulations that oversee the construction of homes and infrastructure. Footnotes 57 and 58 to paragraph 163 of the NPPF required that:
- Developments must be located in areas specifically designated for such use in a development plan or through Local Development Orders, Neighbourhood Development Orders, or Community Right to Build Orders, setting a higher bar compared to other energy projects.
- Proposals must demonstrate community support, often interpreted to mean that any opposition would render the proposal unacceptable.
In September 2023, the then Communications Secretary, Michael Gove, announced plans to lift the restrictions, but this did not happen.
The new government has now revised the NPPF so that these two footnotes no longer apply. This is intended to simplify the approval process for onshore wind projects through aligning the process with other renewable energy developments.
These policy changes took effect from 8 July 2024, with confirmation to Parliament set for 18 July, following the State Opening. The update to the NPPF will incorporate these changes and further outline the government's proposals to support renewable energy development. Additionally, the government plans to consult on integrating large onshore wind proposals into the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) regime (with the intent that the energy secretary would sign off projects). A revised National Policy Statement and an update to the Community Benefits Protocol for Onshore Wind in England will follow.
These initiatives are intended to encourage a surge in new applications for onshore wind. However, grid connection delays remain a critical problem which could diminish this surge. The Environmental Audit Committee published a report in May 2024, concluding that many proposed renewable energy projects are still facing challenges in accessing the electricity grid due to slow connections, limited capacity and market uncertainty. The report suggests that Ofgem and the government should actively oversee and streamline strategies that aim to deliver grid connections more quickly. For example, it advises that Ofgem should reassess its milestone queue reforms, placing emphasis on promoting projects that are demonstrably ready to build. It remains to be seen whether the new government will heed these recommendations. The new government must move quickly in announcing, consulting and implementing its policy measures to redress ongoing grid connection delays.
