Sunak warned against ‘fudge’ on any onshore wind ban reversal

The Prime Minister is reportedly set to overturn the current de facto ban in the face of party pressure.

Rishi Sunak has been warned against ‘fudging’ the Government’s position on onshore wind (PA) (PA Archive)

Rishi Sunak has been warned against “fudging” the Government’s position on onshore wind.

It comes amid reports the Prime Minister is set to overturn the current de facto ban in the face of party pressure.

The Telegraph said on Monday ministers will release plans that will give councils the right to be able to build proposed wind farms if there is community support for the projects.

It would mark the latest effort by Mr Sunak to see off backbench unrest on the issue, with the paper saying ministers are discussing ways to finalise the details on the amendment, particularly on how fast the Government could legally scrap the ban.

Our position on this has not changed. We support the development where there is local support. Applications will continue to be decided at a local level

Prime Minister's spokesman

Downing Street refused to be drawn on the reports but said the Government position “has not changed”.

The results of a consultation on the subject are expected to be published soon.

“Our position on this has not changed. We support the development where there is local support. Applications will continue to be decided at a local level,” the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said.

“We have consulted on technical changes to the National Planning Policy Framework that would help supportive communities take forward onshore wind projects.

“We are due to set out the responses to those consultations shortly.”

Last October, Mr Sunak pledged to keep the onshore wind farm ban in place.

The Government’s Energy Bill will be voted on as ministers return from their summer recess, with Labour said to support the proposed changes.

Only six more Tory backbenchers will need to vote in favour to overturn the Government’s majority.

Some environmental campaigners reacted with scepticism to the newspaper report.

Greenpeace UK’s policy director, Dr Doug Parr, said: “This proposal looks like yet another example of this Government deliberately blocking this country from having genuine energy security, lower bills and clean power.

“Why should onshore wind face more planning obstacles than new housing or roads when it’s one of the cheapest, greenest and fastest forms of electricity to develop? The truth is that Sunak seems to be fudging this amendment to try and appease his backbench MPs with an ideological opposition to wind turbines.”

In July, Sir Alok Sharma, the former Cop26 president, formally proposed an amendment to the Government’s Energy Bill.

His amendment requires the Government to show developers how they can demonstrate that local communities support their plans and how they can provide financial benefits to those communities.

The plan would also prohibit appeals against a decision by a local council to refuse planning permission for a wind farm to ensure local wishes are respected.

The amendment had been signed by more than 20 backbench Conservatives, including ex-prime minister Liz Truss and several other former ministers.

Other signatories include former party chairman Sir Jake Berry, former chief whip Wendy Morton, Wales Committee chairman Stephen Crabb and former levelling up secretary Sir Simon Clarke.

The current rules, introduced under David Cameron in 2015, require councils to draw up detailed plans showing all the areas suitable for onshore wind development before new wind farms can go ahead, and also mean that proposals can be blocked even if just a single person objects to them.