PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE
Onshore Wind Planning Applications - 16 April 2024 (Commons/Commons Chamber)
Debate Detail
Contributions from Gareth Thomas, are highlighted with a yellow border.
Gareth Thomas
Harrow West
11:58:07
Andrew Bowie
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
In 2023, 80 onshore wind planning applications were submitted in Great Britain—a 27% increase from 2022. We have recently changed planning policy in England to pave the way for more onshore wind projects where there is local support.
11:58:29
Gareth Thomas
It is now seven months since the Government claimed to have lifted the onshore wind ban. The Secretary of State at the time claimed that her decision would speed up the delivery of projects. Since then, no new applications for onshore wind farms for domestic use have been submitted. Does the Minister think that that has been a success?
Andrew Bowie
Unlike the Opposition, we like to work with and listen to communities around the country. We believe in local consent for projects. It should be up to local communities to decide whether and how much onshore wind they want in their area. The Opposition do not like to talk about this, but we must remember that in 2010, a pitiful 7% of electricity came from renewables—that is up to 50% under this Government.
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