Concerns that the UK government will renege on a commitment to lift the ban on onshore wind farms in England has prompted NGOs, community energy companies, business leaders and public figures to sign a joint letter to ministers.
The letter, addressed to Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and Grant Shapps, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, expresses “deep concern” that the government “apparently has no credible plans” to lift the de facto ban on onshore wind.
Government rules, introduced in 2015, mean that just one objection to an onshore wind farm can block the whole project, translating into an eight-year ban and resulting in a 96% decrease in the number of new turbines approved in England.
The letter said the evidence is compelling that “ending the ban on onshore wind is an essential step if the Government is serious about its commitment to reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050”.
However, the proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework which are under consultation are entirely inadequate to bring about the required change in policy.
The decision to replace Footnote 54 with some marginally revised wording, in the form of new Footnotes 62 and 63, looks to be almost identical in effect, and inevitably means the effective ban will remain in place.
At the very least, onshore wind planning applications should be assessed on a level playing field with all other infrastructure projects.
“We are therefore calling for the removal of Footnotes 62 and 63 (previously Footnote 54) from the National Planning Policy Framework,” said the signatories.
The signatories include: Author, cook and TV presenter Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Possible co-director Leo Murray, founder of Ecotricity Dale Vince, RSPB interim director Nick Bruce White, Green MP for Brighton Pavilion Caroline Lucas, broadcaster and environmental activist Chris Packham, science, natural history and environmental broadcaster Liz Bonnin, Head of Onshore Wind at RenewableUK James Robottom, Regen chief executive Merlin Hyman, Bath and West Community Energy (BWCE) managing director Pete Capener and Community Energy South CEO Ollie Pendered.