Onshore wind farm U-turn with ministers set to announce TODAY that de facto ban is being ditched amid Tory squabbling over planning rules and Net Zero drive
Ministers are expected to announced today that the de facto ban on onshore wind farms is being ditched.
The U-turn is set to be confirmed later as Rishi Sunak struggles to quell Tory infighting over planning rules and the Net Zero drive.
Former Cop26 president Alok Sharma has been leading backbench pressure to drop rules which allow a single objection to block development.
It is understood the written ministerial statement will set out changes to come into force with immediate effect.
A U-turn on onshore wind farms is set to be confirmed as Rishi Sunak struggles to quell Tory infighting over planning rules and the Net Zero drive. Pictured, a wind farm in East Sussex
Mr Sunak, pictured yesterday, pledged last October to keep tight rules on onshore wind farm in place
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.’
Former minister Sir Alok said MPs who have signed his amendment to the Energy Bill, set to be debated in the Commons later, want to see a ‘much more permissive planning regime’ on onshore wind.
Sir Alok told 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 of course, allied with this, we want to ensure that local communities who are willing to take onshore wind developments will receive direct community benefits.’
He continued: ‘I think it’s going to be very important to see the detail of what the Government puts forward in terms of its ministerial statement, in terms of what ministers say from the despatch box.
‘But I hope that the Government will have listened and will be willing to move forward.’
Sir Alok said he wants to see the ‘outdated’ right of an individual to effectively veto a wind farm to be removed.
He added: ‘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.
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.
Former Cop26 president Alok Sharma has been leading backbench pressure to drop rules which allow a single objection to block development
The amendment had been signed by more than 20 backbench Conservatives, including ex-prime minister Liz Truss and several other former ministers.
Other signatories include former party chairman Sir Jake Berry, former chief whip Wendy Morton, Wales Committee chairman Stephen Crabb and former levelling up secretary Sir Simon Clarke.
The current rules, introduced under David Cameron in 2015, require councils to draw up detailed plans showing all the areas suitable for onshore wind development before new wind farms can go ahead, and also mean that proposals can be blocked even if just a single person objects to them.
Downing Street refused to be drawn on speculation about a shift yesterday, saying the Government position ‘has not changed’ since Mr Sunak pledged last October to keep the rules in place.
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