UK Government Ends What It Called a De Facto Onshore Wind Ban in England

The announcement formed part of the Chancellor's first set of growth measures, which also included steps towards building 1.5 million homes over five years and support for 300 additional planning officers. The Treasury's announcement described the measures as an immediate step in the government's clean energy mission and noted that only two onshore wind turbines had been built in England in almost a decade under the previous restrictions.

What has changed in planning policy

Since 2015, two footnotes to paragraph 163 of the NPPF applied only to onshore wind. They meant a proposal could be considered acceptable only if the site was identified as suitable for wind energy in a development plan or certain local orders, and, with narrow exceptions, if it could be shown to have community support. The government said that in practice this was often read to mean that any opposition prevented approval.

Those tests no longer apply. Onshore wind applications will now be treated in the same way as other energy development proposals, and the statement said the change would be reflected in the forthcoming NPPF update. The government has committed to doubling onshore wind energy by 2030.

Who is affected

The lifting of the onshore wind ban matters most to developers, landowners and investors with English wind projects that stalled under the previous tests, and to local planning authorities, which will now assess wind applications against the general approach for renewable and low carbon development. Repowering and life extension of existing sites were already treated more favourably and remain so.

What happens next

The government said it would confirm the position to Parliament on 18 July, following the State Opening. Through the wider NPPF update it intends to set out further proposals to support renewable energy, and it will consult on bringing large onshore wind proposals into the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project regime, followed by a revised National Policy Statement. An updated Community Benefits Protocol for onshore wind in England is also due to be published, reflecting the government's view that communities hosting renewable infrastructure should benefit from it.

Sources

• GOV.UK: Policy statement on onshore wind
• GOV.UK: Chancellor unveils a new era for economic growth