Renewable Energy: Planning Permission

Question

The Government's 'British energy security strategy' builds on the Prime Minister's 'Ten point plan for a green industrial revolution', and the 'Net zero strategy'. Renewable technologies will play a key role in reaching the UK's ambitious Carbon Budget and Net Zero targets. The strategy sets out a series of changes to the planning system to support the delivery of renewable infrastructure, including offshore and onshore wind and solar.

As part of the strategy the Government has committed to cut the time it takes for offshore wind projects to get planning and regulatory consents and secure grid connections. Our goal is to reduce the time it takes to get planning consent from up to four years to one year, from when applications are submitted to final decision.

In addition to these changes to offshore wind, for onshore wind, we will consult this year on developing local partnerships for a limited number of supportive communities who wish to host new onshore wind infrastructure in return for benefits, including lower energy bills. The consultation will consider how clear support can be demonstrated by local communities and local authorities.

For ground-mounted solar, we have announced that we will consult on amending planning rules to strengthen policy in favour of development on non-protected land, while ensuring communities continue to have a say and environmental protections remain in place. We will publish a consultation on these measures in due course. As part of this we will also gather evidence on the use and suitability of the existing permitted development rights which allow for the installation of solar equipment on and within the curtilages of domestic and non-domestic premises. This will inform any changes that are taken forward.