Rishi Sunak ‘poised to drop effective ban on new onshore wind farms’ as Tories squabble over planning rules and Net Zero drive
Rishi Sunak is poised to drop the ban on new onshore wind farms amid Tory squabbling over planning rules and the Net Zero drive.
The government is expected to ease restrictions on councils approving sites if there is community support.
It would mark the latest effort by Mr Sunak to quell backbench unrest on the issue, a long-running flashpoint between Red Wall and shire MPs.
Downing Street refused to be drawn on the reports but said the Government position ‘has not changed’.
The results of a consultation on the subject are expected to be published soon.
‘Our position on this has not changed. We support the development where there is local support. Applications will continue to be decided at a local level,’ the PM’s official spokesman said.
The government is expected to ease restrictions on councils approving sites if there is community support. Pictured, a wind farm in East Sussex
‘We have consulted on technical changes to the National Planning Policy Framework that would help supportive communities take forward onshore wind projects.
‘We are due to set out the responses to those consultations shortly.’
Last October, Mr Sunak pledged to keep the onshore wind farm rules – which mean developments are blocked if just one person objects – in place.
But the Telegraph reported than ministers could back an amendment to the Energy Bill changing that stance.
In July, Sir Alok Sharma, the former Cop26 president, formally proposed a tweak that would require the Government to show developers how they can demonstrate that local communities support their plans.
They would also need to give evidence of financial benefits to those communities.
The blueprint 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.
Rishi Sunak has been struggling to contain Tory infighting over onshore wind farms
The amendment has 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.
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