England's onshore wind sector is rebounding after nearly a decade of stagnation. About 45 applications for new onshore windfarms landed with regulators in the year ending March 2024, marking the highest annual submission rate since 2015, according to Guardian analysis of government data.
The surge follows Labour's decision in autumn 2023 to overturn the Conservative Party's de facto ban on onshore wind development that had persisted since 2015. The previous government never formally prohibited onshore wind projects, but used planning policy to block them in practice. National planning guidance effectively allowed local councils to reject proposals based on community objections alone, strangling the sector.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband pledged to reform onshore wind policy as part of Labour's broader clean energy agenda. The party's 2023 manifesto committed to reforming planning rules and "making wind power part of our energy security strategy." Within weeks of taking office, the government signaled it would lift restrictions on onshore wind development in England, aligning the nation with Scotland and Wales, where onshore wind expansion has accelerated.
The 45 applications represent a dramatic reversal after years of project drought. Between 2015 and 2022, onshore wind applications in England averaged fewer than 10 per year. The applications now pending represent potential capacity across sites ranging from small community schemes to larger commercial developments.
Planning timeline remains a critical bottleneck. Even with policy restrictions lifted, local authorities must process applications through standard planning procedures, meaning approval can take 12 to 18 months. Communities retain consultation rights, and environmental assessments, grid connection studies, and radar impact assessments can extend timelines further. Opposition from local groups persists in some areas, though polls consistently show 70 to 80 percent public support for renewable energy generally.
The timing aligns with Britain's grid decarbonization goals. The Climate Change Committee and National Grid's Future Energy Scenarios both project substantial growth in wind capacity is necessary to meet 2035 emissions targets. Current onshore wind capacity in England stands at roughly 13 gigawatts. Industry analysts estimate an additional 10 to 15 gigawatts of onshore wind is needed by 2035 to support electrification of transport and heating alongside grid decarbonization.
Scotland demonstrates the model's success. That nation approved onshore wind farms at rates of 10 to 20 applications annually throughout the Conservative era, building a 20-gigawatt onshore fleet. Scottish developers faced fewer planning obstacles and faster approvals.
The rebound in English applications signals investor confidence returning to the sector. Developers including RES, Ørsted, and Siemens Gamesa have indicated pipeline projects shelved during the Conservative ban. Financial institutions are redeploying capital toward onshore developments now that policy certainty has improved.
Next steps depend on local authority capacity and central government support. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities must ensure councils have resources to process applications efficiently. Grid connection delays represent another constraint. National Grid infrastructure upgrades in northern England and the Midlands, where many applications cluster, determine whether projects reach completion on realistic timelines.
The 10-year high marks a turning point, but converting applications into operational farms requires sustained policy commitment and infrastructure investment across the planning, grid, and supply chain sectors.