Published 11 May 2023
Last updated 15 February 2024 — See all updates
Developing local
partnerships for onshore wind in England: government
response
Detail of outcome
This consultation sought views on improvements that could be made
to the existing system of community engagement and community
benefits for onshore wind in England.
Proposals included:
- formally embedding best practice principles of community
engagement into official planning guidance
- working with the onshore wind industry and other stakeholders
to update the Community Benefits Protocol for Onshore Wind in
England
The majority of respondents to the consultation supported these
proposals and government intends to take these forward.
Feedback also indicated that more could be done to provide
clearer signals to communities and industry on the expectations
of a community benefits process, so we also intend to:
- take ownership of the Community Benefits Protocol and publish
it as official guidance on GOV.UK. This will provide the whole of
the onshore wind industry with clear expectations on community
benefits and give greater certainty to communities
- provide supporting information and case studies on community
benefits to help upskill local communities and streamline the
community benefits process, including setting out the instances
in which developers could provide additional support to
communities
- develop a mechanism for the onshore wind industry to formally
sign-up and endorse the updated Protocol, which will provide
greater trust and transparency for communities
- consider establishing a public community benefits register
that can capture details of community benefit packages, to allow
communities to compare offers and drive best practice
These measures will ensure there is a comprehensive regime in
place where communities have their voices heard and can enjoy the
benefits of hosting onshore wind projects.
Detail of feedback received
We received 76 responses to this consultation from a variety of
stakeholders, broken down as follows:
- industry – developers, operators, suppliers, legal and
consultancy – 27 responses (36%)
- local government – including local authorities or
associations and town or parish councils – 16 responses (21%)
- public and commercial representation – including charities,
advocacy groups and industry bodies or trade associations – 16
responses (21%)
- private citizens – 9 responses (12%)
- community energy groups – 4 responses (5%)
- academia – 3 responses (4%)
- consumer retail goods – 1 response (1%)
Original consultation Summary
We're seeking views on developing local partnerships for onshore
wind with supportive communities in England.
This consultation ran from
9am on 11 May 2023 to 11:45pm on 7 July 2023
Consultation description
In the British Energy Security
Strategy, the government committed to develop local
partnerships for onshore wind in England, enabling supportive
communities who wish to host new onshore wind infrastructure to
directly benefit from doing so.
This consultation is seeking views on:
- improving the way developers and communities engage when an
onshore wind site is proposed in a local area
- whether improvements can be made to the system of community
benefits, so that communities directly benefit from cheap, clean,
secure power
We welcome responses from anyone with an interest in the policy
area, but the consultation will be of particular interest to:
- those considering the development of new onshore wind in
England
- English planning authorities and representative planning
bodies
- electricity traders and suppliers
- consumer, community and environmental groups with an interest
in the renewable electricity sector
Read our consultation
privacy notice.
Documents
Developing local
partnerships for onshore wind in England
