Onshore wind farm ban to be eased following backbench Tory pressure

The government is expected today to relax an effective ban on new onshore wind farm projects amid mounting pressure from Conservative rebels.

The changes will likely mean new rules for councils granting planning permission, so instead of requiring complete agreement, projects will instead only have to demonstrate local support.

Sir Alok Sharma, president of the COP26 climate talks in Glasgow in 2021, has led Tory backbench pressure over the issue and submitted an amendment to the Energy Bill.

He said he wanted a change to the current rules that allow a single objection to block a new onshore development.

Bowing to pressure, the government is understood to be setting out the changes in a written ministerial statement today.

A government source said: “We are very clear that onshore wind developments should have the consent of, and benefit, local communities.

“However, we want to see the sector thrive and believe that this is an important step forward.”

Onshore wind in the UK is cheaper and faster to build than offshore, but suffers from less reliable wind.

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

More than 20 backbench Conservatives have backed the change, including ex-prime minister Liz Truss, former party chairman Sir Jake Berry, Wales Committee chairman Stephen Crabb and former levelling up secretary Sir Simon Clarke.

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

The former COP26 president told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme the “outdated” right of an individual to effectively veto a wind farm to be removed.

The existing rules were brought in in 2015 under David Cameron amid a push-back against green policies.

Sir Alok said: “The current situation we have is that just one objection can prevent a wind farm from being built.

“I mean, clearly, that is not a community veto and, frankly, I don’t think it’s a sensible way for a planning system to operate.”

He said there should be a “direct linkage” between communities willing to take onshore wind farms and them getting a direct benefit, which could be a discount on their bills.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

A YouGov poll in April found 63% of people who voted Conservative in the last general had a “favourable” view of onshore wind and 68% said they would support new onshore wind in their area.

But a parallel survey – conducted by YouGov for green thinktank ECIU – suggested MPs were “out of touch”.

Half of the 103 polled MPs (47%) thought their constituents would oppose a new onshore wind farm in their area, including two thirds (68%) of Conservative and 30% of Labour MPs.

Sir Alok’s Energy Bill amendment would require the Government to show developers how they can demonstrate that local communities support their plans and how they can provide financial benefits to those communities.

The plan would also prohibit appeals against a decision by a local council to refuse planning permission for a wind farm to ensure local wishes are respected.

Read Entire Article