England has a long way to go before it catches up with Scotland in the onshore wind generation league table. Of a total installed capacity of 15.4GW at the end of 2023, 62% of this is based in Scotland, whereas England generates just 3.1GW or 20% of capacity. 

On taking the reins at the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero in July, Ed Miliband decisively fired the starting gun for new onshore development in England by lifting planning restraints immediately and establishing a new Onshore Wind Taskforce – this will put in place a new 2030 policy roadmap with its first fundamental task to build a new pipeline of projects. 

In one of his first statements to the House of Commons, Miliband called out MPs who claimed they were protecting their communities with the onshore wind ban as having ‘undermined our energy security and set back the fight against the climate crisis.’  

His other immediate decisions in office were to approve three large solar farms in Lincolnshire, seemingly pitting the new government against the local communities who have long fought against the proposals. 

There are doubtless many other, predominately rural constituencies, concerned that new onshore wind and solar schemes will come forward now the planning shackles have been released. Given the government’s ambitious clean energy targets, many will fear that proposed plans to speed up planning decisions will lessen their voice.  

What can be learned from Scotland? 

The Scottish Government has an ambition to deliver 20GW of onshore wind generation by 2030. The Energy and Climate Change Unit found that 76% of Scots are supportive of more onshore wind development, which is a figure consistent across the rest of the UK. It has been the difference of political will north of the border that has seen Scotland continuing to build onshore wind, but it is a misconception that all Scots welcome wind turbines. Building wind farms in Scotland takes a long time, and winning over communities can take even longer.  

What has been in place in Scotland is a planning framework that has sought to balance the need for development, the design of developments (given the proclivity of wind turbines to impact on Scotland’s stunning vistas) and support for communities. This was recently reviewed via National Planning Framework 4 and the Onshore Wind Sector Deal to help meet the 2030 ambition, given one in two wind farms are refused based on visual amenity or adverse impacts on nature.  

As grounds for consent are weighted in favour of development to tackle greenhouse gas emissions, it’s vital that communities and consultees are able influence the design process (e.g. placement and height of turbines) during the consultation process.  

Effective consultation by developers will therefore be essential to help meet the UK government’s onshore wind targets and speed up the planning process if projects are to avoid public inquiry and to ensure that communities are fully engaged throughout the process. 

How can communities have an effective say if the pace of development needs to increase? 

Conservative politicians representing Lincolnshire were quick to denounce Miliband’s decision to consent solar projects in their constituencies. Rural communities pay some of the highest energy costs in the country, while accommodating turbines and pylons that are perceived to send energy to the towns and cities, meaning they see little benefit. There is also concern from agricultural stakeholders who are concerned about the loss of high-quality agricultural land being given up for energy generation.  

So how can developers, and ultimately the government, win communities over? While three quarters of those polled nationwide accepted the need for onshore wind to meet our emission targets, less than 50% would welcome development in their local area.  

It should also not have escaped Miliband’s attention that there are many more Labour MPs representing these communities. A consultation will look at whether larger wind farms should fall within the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) regime, to help speed up the consenting process. Ensuring that local communities have an effective say will be important if Labour isn’t to alienate the supporters in these seats that carried them to power. 

Much focus is placed on voluntary community benefit that can be agreed by developers and communities; these don’t form any material part of a planning application, and this is very unlikely to change. Immediately prior to the change in government, DESNZ consulted on updating the community benefit protocol between developers and communities to make it part of government guidance to help standardise the process. In Scotland the protocol sets an expectation of £5,000 per MW installed per year. 

The consultation also asked if more innovative community benefit solutions could be found; for example, could households in the vicinity of wind farms benefit from reduced energy bills to tackle fuel poverty? Many would argue that regional pricing would be a better way to compensate communities who live with turbines. The prize has been made clear though; the government expects people’s bills to fall if we can generate the energy we need here and be less reliant on importing energy from overseas. 

We await details from the new government on how it intends to balance the views of local communities during the consenting process. Given the scale of development on the horizon, town halls across parts of England will be very busy in the months and years ahead. 

Grayling’s energy and infrastructure specialists have supported clients for over a decade securing planning consents, managing construction communications and supporting policy reform, including major onshore wind projects in Scotland. To find out how our team can help you, please contact matthew.revett@grayling.com.