RENEWABLE ENERGY
NAVIGATING THE NEW DIRECT ONSHORE WIND IN THE U
Amy Longmore-Gaskell, associate director, planning at Turley, explains why a coordinated, well-resourced, effort to
modernise the planning process, invest in grid infrastructure and earn the support of local communities, will be essential for the future of onshore wind in the UK
T
he UK Government’s recent commitment to doubling onshore wind energy capacity by
2030 represents a key factor in the country’s transition to renewable energy. While the removal of the de facto ban on onshore
wind in England is a major step towards achieving Net Zero targets, this does not necessarily mean that the transition to increasing wind energy capacity will be an easy one. There are certain challenges, however, from
identifying suitable sites to upskilling Local Planning Authorities and engaging local communities, which must be carefully navigated. A coordinated approach, which acknowledges the
full extent of these challenges, will be fundamental in ensuring the delivery of new onshore wind developments is as straightforward as possible.
THE LEGACY OF ENGLAND’S ONSHORE WIND RESTRICTIONS For almost a decade, England’s restrictive policy on onshore wind hampered progress. Introduced by the Conservative Government in 2015, the policy allowed a single local objection to block wind farm projects. This led to the immediate rejection or withdrawal of 54 planning applications, leaving potential for renewable energy unrealised. In fact, analysis we conducted at Turley estimates that England missed out on approximately 2.3GW of onshore wind power during this 10-year period – enough clean electricity to power 1.6 million homes annually. The new Labour Government immediately lifted the de facto ban in July 2024, setting an ambitious target to achieve 27–29GW of onshore wind power by 2030 across the UK, a significant increase compared to what we currently generate (15.7GW). While this policy shift is a long-overdue correction, the renewable energy sector now faces the challenge of recovering lost ground and accelerating new developments from a standing start.
32 Amy Longmore-Gaskell
Natural Beauty are all but ruled out, and other rural locations with low population density also have correspondingly small roads which may cause access issues for the now, much larger, turbines. Another crucial opportunity lies in reassessing
sites that were previously rejected under the old policy regime. Many of the 54 withdrawn or refused applications may now be viable under new conditions. However, given the passage of time and technological advancements, developers may need to revisit these sites from scratch, re- evaluating suitability and updating environmental and technical assessments.
UNLOCKING SITE POTENTIAL AND INFRASTRUCTURE CAPACITY Finding the right locations for new onshore wind projects requires a multi-layered approach. While wind resource is the most obvious
consideration, the ability to connect to the national grid can be a limiting factor. In many regions, grid infrastructure will require upgrades before projects can proceed. Delays of up to ten years for grid connections have not been uncommon. To meet 2030 goals, the Government must coordinate with National Grid and Ofgem to streamline connection processes and invest in transmission capacity, particularly in wind-rich but under-resourced areas such as the North East and South West. A new process for grid connection, which
will aim to streamline the connection process, is also set to be introduced. Knowing how to navigate this will be fundamental. The new process will see future projects applying to join the national electricity transmission system during designated windows, which will help meet key progress milestones and ensure that projects that are ready to progress can do so. Beyond grid access, site selection must also contend with environmental and logistical constraints. National parks and Areas of Outstanding
ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS - Summer 2025
REFORMING THE PLANNING PROCESS Despite the national policy change, without an understanding of the changes to the technology and a pragmatic view on the impacts of larger turbines, barriers within the planning system could remain. In our view, to meet the levels of onshore wind that the climate emergency demands, England will need to accept that the impact of new onshore turbines will be felt by large numbers of people. Onshore wind farms will inevitably change the landscape, but this change is necessary to deliver clean, affordable energy. Equally important is the need to upskill those in the planning sector. Many LPA officers and others in the planning sector have not worked on wind farm applications for years and may lack the technical knowledge required to assess them effectively. Developers and planning consultants alike are
tackling this head-on by reintroducing planning officers to the complexities of modern wind developments, but more could be done by the Government to ensure skills and a lack of resource do not become a barrier to development, such as ensuring the right training programmes are in place.
BUILDING COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR ONSHORE WIND Positively, public (and political) perception of onshore wind has shifted significantly over the last decade. The urgency of the climate crisis and the rising cost of energy have fostered greater acceptance of renewable energy infrastructure. However, concerns about turbine height, visibility and local disruption persist and must be addressed meaningfully. Developers should go beyond box-ticking
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