UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is poised to revoke the ban on building new onshore wind farms to head off a row with Conservative MPs.
Ministers are preparing to introduce amendments to planning rules that will allow councils give the green light to wind projects where there is broad public support, according to the Telegraph newspaper.
The proposal to scrap the ban on new offshore wind was put forward by MP Alok Sharma back in July and has since attracted support from fellow Conservatives including former prime minister Liz Truss.
The government’s Labour opposition has also supported the amendment, meaning only six more Conservative backbenchers would need back it to overturn Sunak’s majority.
The Telegraph said ministers had been locked in talks with MPs for almost a week over a compromise deal to avoid a defeat in the UK Parliament’s House of Commons.
Negotiations were set to continue on Monday it reported, but plans were being drawn up for a minister to submit a statement to the Commons this week committing to change the existing planning rules. Once the rebels in question have secured the necessary guarantees, they would drop their amendment.
Reacting to the news, BayWa r.e UK managing director John Milligan said: “We are encouraged to see this recent development and are pleased that the UK government recognises onshore wind as an essential contributor towards meeting the government’s 2035 decarbonised electricity system goals.
“This, however, will only be achieved if amendments to NPPF are sufficient to truly remove the de facto ban of onshore wind in England.
“Onshore wind farms provide low cost, environmentally friendly, and domestically produced electricity, and by unlocking new projects in England, the sector will also create a variety of different jobs and stimulate more investment into the UK energy market.
“Overturning the wind farm ban along with the ongoing programme of connections reform will, in the long term, strengthen the UK’s position within the global energy industry transition.”