Communities will benefit from relaxed planning rules for solar and wind power, says Grant Shapps

Planning rules are to be relaxed for solar power and onshore wind, but communities which back the projects could benefit from cut-price energy bills, Grant Shapps has announced.

The Energy Secretary said many people would welcome “cheaper power” and this could persuade people to back wind farms in their neighbourhoods.

But opponents of onshore wind farms - which some decry as a blot on the landscape - will see the promise of lower energy bills as a bribe.

Launching his energy security strategy, Mr Shapps said it was essential to speed up the planning process for renewable energy - and that people should not have to “jump through hoops” to get an onshore wind scheme approved.

He said: “On onshore wind, a consultation is launching on how we can work with local communities to deliver the onshore infrastructure to give benefits to local communities.

“People want cheaper power for example, and energy benefits.

“Where communities are happy to have onshore wind, they should be able to make that decision. But nor do I think that it should be an overcomplicated situation where you have to jump through all sorts of hoops.”

Renewable energy

Boris Johnson and Liz Truss have both urged the government to do more to push the development of onshore wind, saying it is vital to promote growth.

Last year, the two former prime ministers supported a Tory rebellion which forced Michael Gove to make it easier to build onshore wind farms.

The Levelling Up Secretary was forced to make changes to legislation which will end the current process which allows just one objector to stop an onshore wind farm scheme going ahead.

However, the Energy Secretary said: “I often see it being said that we don’t have onshore wind in this country. I just want to correct that.

“It’s around 14.6 gigawatts of onshore wind, it’s probably about the same as we’ve got offshore wind.”

Plans to speed up the planning process for renewable energy were contained in Mr Shapps’ energy security strategy.

A document released by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero stated: “A new set of revised Energy National Policy Statements for consultation which will speed up planning approvals for the energy infrastructure needed to power homes and businesses with the latest low-carbon technologies, such as solar power and offshore wind.

“An investigation by the Electricity Networks Commissioner will examine what else can be done to speed up network infrastructure, with the recommendations delivered to ministers by June.

“A consultation has also been launched today to ensure local communities can benefit from the development of new network infrastructure in their area.”

‘Councils will have more flexibility’

A Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesman confirmed that people could benefit from lower bills if they agreed to onshore wind.

“We have always been clear that we support the development of onshore wind where there is local support,” the spokesman said.

“Today’s package of measures ensures councils will have more flexibility to respond to the views of their residents, while we will shortly consult on further measures so that communities that choose to support onshore wind in their area can benefit directly from doing so, including through lower bills.”

In November, Mr Johnson and Ms Truss joined a Tory rebellion against Rish Sunak’s refusal to allow new onshore wind projects in England.

The former prime ministers were among around 20 Conservative MPs to sign an amendment by Simon Clarke, who served as a minister under Mr Johnson and Ms Truss.