Wind farm rules

A group of Conservative MPs including former Cop26 president Alok Sharma and former prime minister Liz Truss is stepping up pressure to scrap the UK’s effective ban on onshore wind. Under current rules, introduced under David Cameron, a single individual’s objection can stop a development going ahead. The revolt is a baptism of fire for Clare Coutinho, the minister recently promoted to cover energy and net zero. As of last night, the government was proposing only limited changes to the planning system, demoting local concerns from a need to be “fully” addressed to “satisfactorily”. The amendment proposed by Sharma and backed by at least two dozen rebels would instead end all special rules for onshore wind and offer energy bill discounts for local residents. Polling by the Energy, Climate and Intelligence Unit of MPs found that two-thirds of Conservatives thought their constituents would oppose new turbines in their area. The same polling found that two-thirds of the public would actually support developments. The UK’s net zero target is probably unattainable without a big increase in onshore wind capacity.