Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Onshore Wind Farms

Tuesday 28 November 2023 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial figures indicate a record year for onshore wind power at 1.7 GW.
  • The Minister praised Kettering for leading in renewable energy provision.
  • Industry and other bodies criticized September's announced changes to onshore planning restrictions as insufficient.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Meg Hillier Labour (Co-op) Hackney South and Shoreditch
Climate Energy
Context

The number of planning applications for onshore wind farms has significantly decreased from a peak of 64 in 2011 to zero in 2019, with only 10 applications in 2022.

Question

If she will take steps to increase the number of onshore wind farms. The Minister seems to be comparing figures I have not seen. If it is a record year, why have we seen such a dramatic drop in planning applications for onshore wind farms and in the number of onshore wind farms delivered? From a peak of 64 applications in 2011, it went right down to zero in 2019 and now to 10 in 2022. That does not seem like a record year to me. Is it not time the Government stopped shilly-shallying on onshore wind and backed the builders, not the blockers?

Answer from Graham Stuart

The hon. Lady is renowned in the House for her arithmetic skills, but in this case they seem to have failed her. The 1.7 GW is a tremendous success. I share her enthusiasm for onshore wind where communities support it. In September, the Government announced changes to planning policy for onshore wind in England to help make it easier and quicker for local planning authorities to consider and, where appropriate, approve onshore wind projects where there is local support.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The dramatic drop in planning applications was not directly addressed.

How: Renowned Arithmetic Skills

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q2 Meg Hillier Labour (Co-op) Hackney South and Shoreditch
Climate Energy
Context

The Kettering constituency has 30 large wind turbines and solar panels generating enough renewable electricity to power all 45,000 homes.

Question

In the Kettering constituency there are 30 large wind turbines. Together with solar panels, they generate enough renewable electricity to power all 45,000 homes in the constituency. Is this not yet another case of where Kettering leads, others follow?

Answer from Graham Stuart

My hon. Friend has championed, does champion and, I am sure, will continue for many years to champion the good people of Kettering, and the fact that they are providing such leadership on net zero and the delivery of renewables after our parlous inheritance from the Labour party. Let us make sure that we never go back to a system in which renewables are not brought on to our grid in the way they are today.

Not addressed: The question about Kettering leading others was not directly addressed, instead focusing on praise for championing net zero and renewables.

How: Championing Net Zero, Never Go Back To A System

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q3 Philip Hollobone Con
Climate Energy
Context

Industry and other bodies warned that the changes announced in September were too timid. The site in Leighton Buzzard has been in the planning process since 2014.

Question

The Minister is being a little shameless with his figures. We really ought to look at what is continuing to happen in England. In England, industry and other bodies warned that the supposed changes to onshore planning restrictions that were announced in September were far too timid to make any real difference to the dearth of new onshore wind. I recently visited the site in Leighton Buzzard of the only turbine that has been put in place onshore in England since those supposed restrictions were lifted. It turns out that it has been in the planning process since 2014, and is not on a new site anyway. The Department's renewable energy planning database shows that there are precisely zero new schemes in the pipeline in England. Should the Minister not go away and reconsider the remaining planning and funding restrictions on onshore wind so that it really can get going again?

Answer from Graham Stuart

As I have said, I share the enthusiasm on both sides of the House for onshore wind. The Government have set regulations that require onshore wind developers to consult communities in advance of submitting a planning application, as well as having it consulted on post-submission. We make no apology for rolling out this transformation in renewable technologies in concert with communities, rather than seeking to ride roughshod over them.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about reconsidering restrictions was not directly addressed.

How: Consult Communities, Transformative Change

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)