NALC calls on the government to use the democratic planning system for onshore wind development

We have called on the government to use the democratic planning system, rather than permitted development rights (PDRs), to deliver more onshore wind turbines, in our response to the government's consultation on onshore wind development.

In our response, we stressed that decisions relating to onshore wind development should remain within the statutory planning framework and continue to be led by local planning authorities through local plans and neighbourhood planning.

We support urgent national action to ensure that local knowledge is meaningfully integrated into net zero delivery, including through early and effective engagement with parish and town councils. While supporting the deployment of onshore wind and other renewable energy technologies in principle, we argued that communities must play a central role in shaping development in their areas.

We highlighted the importance of neighbourhood planning and community-led energy initiatives, while also calling for communities to benefit financially where renewable energy development takes place.

We also warned that PDRs should play only a limited role within the planning system because of the diversity of local contexts and sensitivities across England's communities.

We added that removing or reducing opportunities for local planning authorities and parish and town councils to consider and comment on planning applications diminishes democratic oversight and risks undermining public confidence in renewable energy delivery.