Onshore wind farms ban to be eased following backbench Tory stress

The authorities is anticipated to chill out an efficient ban on new onshore wind farm initiatives amid stress from Tory MPs.

The adjustments will possible imply new guidelines for profitable planning permission, so as a substitute of requiring full settlement, initiatives will as a substitute solely should display native assist.

On Monday, Downing Street mentioned the federal government place “has not changed” after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledged final October to maintain the de facto ban on onshore wind farms in place.

Sir Alok Sharma, president of the COP26 local weather talks in Glasgow in 2021, has led Tory backbench stress over the difficulty.

He mentioned he wished a change to the present guidelines that enable a single objection to dam a brand new onshore growth.

It is known the adjustments shall be set out in a written ministerial assertion right now, agreed throughout passage of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, that can come into drive with instant impact.

A authorities supply mentioned: “We are very clear that onshore wind developments should have the consent of, and benefit, local communities.

“However, we wish to see the sector thrive and consider that this is a crucial step ahead.”

Sir Alok said MPs who have signed his amendment to the Energy Bill want to see a “way more permissive planning regime” on onshore wind.

He advised BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “We want to see the lifting of the current planning restriction, which means that a single objection to an onshore wind development can block it.

“And in fact, allied with this, we wish to make sure that native communities who’re prepared to take onshore wind developments will obtain direct group advantages.”