The short version
- Onshore wind applications in England reached their highest annual level in ten years, with approximately 45 plans submitted in the year leading up to March.
- The surge follows the reversal of a de facto ban implemented by the previous administration, allowing developers to resume submitting projects after a period of regulatory stagnation.
- While activity has increased significantly, proposed farms in England are notably smaller than those in Scotland, reflecting a trend toward modest-scale installations rather than large utility-scale projects.
Proposals for new onshore wind energy facilities in England have climbed to their highest annual volume in a decade, marking a significant shift in the country’s renewable energy landscape. Data analyzed from government records indicates that approximately 45 applications were submitted during the twelve-month period ending in March. This uptick represents a stark contrast to the previous years of stagnation and signals a renewed interest from developers who had largely withdrawn from the English market due to restrictive planning policies.
The increase in activity is directly linked to recent changes in government policy. The current administration moved quickly to overturn a de facto ban on onshore wind developments that had been established by Conservative ministers in 2015. Under the previous regime, regulatory hurdles effectively stifled new projects, causing application rates to plummet. Before these restrictions were eased, the monthly average for submitted capacity hovered around nine megawatts. By early this year, that figure had risen to approximately 36 megawatts per month, illustrating a rapid acceleration in developer confidence.
The contrast between the current surge and the lowest point of onshore wind activity is particularly striking. In the months preceding September 2023, when initial steps were taken to loosen some regulatory constraints, applications averaged only one megawatt per month. During that nadir, reports indicated that Ukraine was completing more onshore wind projects than England, despite the ongoing conflict in the region. The recent policy reversal has allowed the sector to recover from this historic low, with capacity entering the planning system more than tripling since the new government took office.
Government officials have framed the lifting of the ban as a critical step toward enhancing national energy security and reducing consumer costs. A spokesperson emphasized that the previous restrictions had held back potential economic growth and higher energy bills for households. The administration has supported this shift by backing the largest onshore windfarm in England in ten years through a flagship renewables auction. Additionally, new regulations have simplified the process for farms and factories to install small turbines, removing the need for planning permission for units no larger than an oak tree.
Despite the increase in the number of applications, the scale of individual projects in England remains modest compared to other parts of the United Kingdom. Analysis reveals that the average onshore windfarm proposed in England since the ban was lifted consists of just two turbines, delivering eight megawatts of capacity. In contrast, proposals in Scotland during the same period averaged nine turbines with a capacity of 59 megawatts. Only one project with a capacity exceeding 100 megawatts has been proposed in England, whereas Scotland has seen eighteen such large-scale applications.
The Imerys project near St Austell in Cornwall exemplifies this trend toward smaller developments. Securing government subsidy as the largest onshore windfarm in England since the policy change, the 20-megawatt project is still dwarfed by many of its counterparts in Scotland. This disparity highlights a structural difference in how renewable energy is being developed across the UK, with English developers focusing on numerous smaller sites rather than few large ones. Total proposals in England have climbed to 438 megawatts, compared to 490 megawatts in Wales and over 5,200 megawatts in Scotland.
Industry leaders argue that onshore wind remains one of the most cost-effective sources of new electricity in the UK. RenewableUK, a trade group representing the sector, notes that generating power from onshore wind costs roughly half as much as new gas-fired generation. This economic advantage is particularly relevant given the volatility of global gas prices and the need to strengthen energy security. The group also highlights the speed at which these projects can be built, allowing for immediate contributions to the grid and local economies.
Beyond national energy metrics, there is a focus on local economic benefits. Community benefit funds are established to provide £5,000 per year for every megawatt of installed capacity, directing money toward local priorities. Data suggests that for every pound of post-tax profit developers make, approximately 37 pence is reinvested into the local community. The broader supply chain could contribute up to £56 billion to the economy by 2050 through increased manufacturing of components like blades and towers, with the majority of developer spending occurring within the UK.
As the sector continues to recover, the focus remains on balancing rapid deployment with community acceptance and economic efficiency. The return of developers to England suggests that policy stability is a key driver for investment. While the volume of applications has reached a ten-year high, the relatively small scale of individual projects indicates that the English market may continue to prioritize distributed, smaller-scale generation over massive utility-scale farms in the near term.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- The Guardian World↗Onshore windfarm applications hit 10-year high in England
