The Labour government has made a significant initial step in its policy for renewable energy following its election victory last week by “blowing away” a nine-year moratorium on new onshore windfarms.

The lifting of a de facto ban on onshore wind development announced on 8 July marks a pivotal shift in the UK’s planning energy policy and is part of a broader suite of planning reforms that aim to facilitate the critical infrastructure needs of the UK. With a commitment to doubling onshore wind energy by 2030 to 35GW, the new government has given a strong signal of its increased focus on renewable energy.

De Facto Ban

Since 2015, the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) has effectively blocked onshore wind projects. It requires these projects to be in designated areas and receive full community backing, setting a higher bar than for other energy developments. This has resulted in a de facto ban, with projects often halted by even a single objection.

Policy Change

A wind of change is now blowing through UK planning energy policy following Rachel Reeves’ announcement on 8 July. In her first speech as the UK chancellor a suite of planning reforms took centre-stage, most notably the lifting of the de facto ban on onshore wind.

The announcement removes additional restrictive tests, which mean that onshore wind applications will now be treated the same as other proposals for energy development. The change in policy aligns with previous criticism of the omission of onshore wind from the former government’s policy as being at odds with the targets set out in the British Energy Security Strategy and failing to conceptualise this renewable energy option as a mature, efficient and low-cost technology.