The National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) has recently published a report, “Delivering net zero, climate resilience and growth,” which recommends that the UK government amend legislation to bring onshore wind back into the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP) system.
The report notes that since planning decisions on onshore wind were returned to local authorities in 2016, along with tighter restrictions in the National Planning Policy Framework, the number of onshore wind installations in England has decreased by more than 80%. This decline represents a significant challenge to achieving the UK's net-zero target by 2050, as onshore wind is a critical component of the country's renewable energy mix.
The NIC review suggests that the government's adoption of its recommendations could ensure that consenting for major projects is completed within two and a half years, compared to the current average of more than four years. The changes would also reduce the likelihood of legal challenges and ensure better outcomes for the environment and local communities.
The review proposes a more strategic approach to environmental mitigation across other sectors, similar to the one adopted in the Offshore Wind Package. Environmental data would be gathered at a habitat level rather than on a scheme-by-scheme basis, enabling more effective monitoring and enforcement of mitigations. The report recommends that the government develops a new system of strategic guidance for scheme level assessments by the end of 2025, including a library of effective mitigations from which schemes can select. However, the review stresses that any such solution must remain “fully compliant with international environmental obligations and be monitored effectively by a central body.”
The NIC review also recommends offering local communities more tangible direct benefits for hosting infrastructure that supports national objectives. The menu of benefits for hosting major schemes might include proximity-based payments for households or funding for local projects. These benefits could help to address the perceived unfairness of the current system, in which communities host major infrastructure projects without seeing any direct benefits.
Renewables UK's head of onshore wind, James Robottom, has welcomed the NIC's recommendations and said that classifying larger onshore wind applications as Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, alongside essential reforms to local planning frameworks, would help to speed up the planning process and enable the building of vital new clean energy infrastructure faster, cutting bills for consumers and strengthening Britain's energy security. The NIC review stresses that improving the speed of the planning system for major infrastructure does not need to come at the expense of good decisions that take communities and the environment into account. The proposed changes could have a significant impact on the UK's ability to meet its climate targets and build a more sustainable future.
