Three days after taking office, the new government lifted the de facto ban on onshore wind energy.  The ban had been in place since 2015, so this change opens a wealth of opportunities for developers to bring forward new sites.  Burges Salmon advised on many of the first wave of onshore wind projects and have a team of experts who have been working in the industry for over two decades and are well placed to help clients deliver wind farm projects. 

The new policy goes further than simply lifting the ban. It also removes two National Planning Police Framework tests which had previously acted as a gatekeeper of onshore energy proposals.  Previously onshore wind developments would only have been considered acceptable (with limited exception):

1. In areas allocated in a development area; and 
2. If the proposed project could prove that it had community support. 

This is a good news story and this week in the latest CfD allocation, with a strike price of  £50.9/MWh, onshore wind has again shown that it is great value and can make a strong contribution to our energy security. 

With the ban lifted and policy tests removed, large areas of land in England can now be considered for onshore wind development opportunities.  Developers will be looking at factors such as population density, wind levels and existing land use.  Working collaboratively with experts from across the firm, Burges Salmon can advise on all stages of wind power projects – from site assembly and land agreements, consenting, route to market and planning to build out, financing and operation.