Onshore wind farms are not being built across England due to “unworkable” planning rules that can favour fossil fuel projects, ministers have been warned.
In a joint letter, shared with i, a group of environmental organisations and energy companies said the Government is placing “unworkable restrictions” on the development of onshore wind despite repeated pledges to boost the renewable energy sector.
They said wind turbines are being “unfairly singled out” in planning rules that do not place the same levels of restrictions on other energy projects, such as coal mines or nuclear power stations.
Despite the UK’s target to hit net zero by 2050, very few onshore wind projects have been built in England since former Prime Minister David Cameron brought in strict planning rules in 2015, which effectively led to a de facto ban on land-based turbines.
Last year Rishi Sunak vowed to reverse this ban by removing a planning rule that said an objection from a single person could prevent a wind farm from being built.
One renewable energy company told i it is planning to submit planning applications for new onshore wind farms following this relaxation of the rules, but others are warning that the planning rules remain too restrictive for them to consider investing in a new project.
No new applications for onshore wind projects had been submitted as of February this year despite the relaxation of the rules, according to The Guardian. The Government said it would take time for new projects to come through.
