De facto ban lifted for onshore wind farms

MINISTERS have relaxed the rules over onshore wind power schemes that have a community's backing.

- Steph Spyro

Planning rules have been streamlined and the ways that suitable wind farm locations could be found were changed yesterday after pressure from backbench Tory MPs.

Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, said: "To increase our energy security and develop a cleaner, greener economy, we are introducing new measures to allow local communities to back onshore wind power projects." It will only apply in areas where developments have community support but will build on our "enormous success" as a global leader in offshore wind as Britain moves to net zero emissions.