Ed Miliband, the Energy Secretary, is poised to rewrite Britain’s planning rules to clear the path for a massive expansion of wind and solar energy, effectively reducing local powers to block or alter green energy projects.
Under proposed changes, wind turbines and solar farms of a certain scale will be classified as “nationally significant infrastructure projects” (NSIPs), granting them the same priority status as airports and major power plants.
As part of Labour’s Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, any wind farm exceeding 100 megawatts (MW) in capacity—equivalent to about 15-20 turbines—would fall under national jurisdiction. This shift will give unelected planning inspectors, rather than local communities and councils, the final say on whether projects proceed. Solar developments meeting these criteria will also follow the same rules, potentially ending an era of local-level control over large renewable energy schemes.
The Government expects the reforms to unlock around £40 billion of private sector investment every year up to 2030, as Britain aims to decarbonise its power grid and reduce dependence on imported gas. However, the announcement, published on Friday, makes no mention of Miliband’s pre-election pledge to cut household bills by £300 a year, focusing instead on long-term cost stability and energy security.
By fast-tracking approvals, Labour hopes to double onshore wind capacity from 15 gigawatts (GW) to nearly 30GW by 2030, which could mean up to 3,000 new turbines, including taller models of up to 800 feet. Solar capacity is also set to more than triple, from 15GW to about 50GW, potentially covering around 500 square miles of farmland with panels.
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