The Government has proposed to ease planning restrictions on onshore wind farms.
A consultation will be launched on removing the requirement for land to be designated for wind turbines in local plans in order to grant planning permission.
Under the proposals, evidence of ‘local support’ will have to be provided, although details have yet to be released on how this will work.
The announcement follows talks between local government secretary Michael Gove and backbench Conservatives.
Decisions on planning permission will remain with councils rather than being designated as Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects that go to ministers.
A spokesperson for the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities said: ‘Decisions on onshore wind sites will continue to be made at a local level as these are best made by local representatives who know their areas best and are democratically accountable to the local community.’
The consultation will be launched before Christmas and conclude by the end of April.
This article was originally published by The MJ (£).
