Communities which allow onshore wind farms to be built nearby could request a new GP or a nursery in exchange under plans being considered by ministers
- The Government has previously looked into cutting bills in return for wind farms
Communities could request a new doctor’s surgery or nursery in return for their consent to build an onshore wind farm nearby under plans being considered by ministers.
It is understood that proposals to give households the chance to request new facilities for their local area are among measures being reviewed to encourage green energy projects.
A consultation on the ways communities can benefit directly from wind farms closed over the summer, and ministers are now in the process of considering the responses.
The Government has previously looked into a proposal for households to receive up to £350 a year off their energy bills in return for supporting the construction of a local wind farm.
Bill reductions remain under consideration, but a Cabinet source said new facilities could also be built in return for wind farms.
A consultation on the ways communities can benefit directly from wind farms closed over the summer, and ministers are now in the process of considering the responses
Communities could be offered nurseries, GP surgeries or youth centres – as well as a host of other facilities – if they consent to a project.
The source said: ‘We’re looking at money off people’s bills because that’s what people tell us they would prefer.
‘But we are also considering consulting on local projects. So if you agreed to a wind farm, you could request a new nursery if that’s what the community needs.’
Community consultations would be used to determine what facilities are preferred, rather than a local vote.
A Whitehall source added that no decisions had been made, with bill reductions expected to be more likely than the offer of facilities. When he entered Number 10 Rishi Sunak scrapped plans to relax planning laws that have led to a virtual moratorium on wind farms since 2015.
When he entered Number 10 Rishi Sunak scrapped plans to relax planning laws that have led to a virtual moratorium on wind farms since 2015
But he faced a backbench rebellion over support for an amendment to allow onshore wind farms where there is community consent.
Labour then joined forces with the rebels to support the amendment, and Number 10 was forced into a rethink.
Last month, the Government said onshore wind projects with community consent would be approved more quickly. This is thanks to streamlined planning rules included in the Energy Bill.
Ministers have broadened the ways that suitable locations can be identified and are speeding up the process of allocating sites.
The Government said this would allow whole communities to have their say, rather than just a small number of objectors.
Former prime minister David Cameron introduced an effective ban on new onshore wind farms in 2015.
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