Local areas will be supported to progress onshore windfarms

Onshore wind projects supported by local people will be approved more quickly in England, in new measures being brought forward by the Government.

The Government has now streamlined planning rules, meaning local areas have a greater say in how onshore wind projects should be considered, ultimately resulting in electricity bill savings and increased national energy security.

The measures include broadening the ways that suitable locations can be identified, including by communities, and speeding up the process of allocating sites by giving alternatives to the local plan process. This will ensure the whole community has a say, not just a small number of objectors – paving the way for more onshore wind projects to come online where they have community support.

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This will mean local policy on onshore wind continues to be decided by elected local councillors, accountable to local people, and plans are taken forward where they can demonstrate local support and address planning impacts identified by the community.

Communities backing local wind farms could also benefit from cheaper energy under proposals to incentivise more projects. The Government has consulted on proposals for improved benefits and rewards for communities backing onshore wind farms and will set out the next steps this Autumn. See: Local areas supported to progress onshore windfarms – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)