.jpg)
Regen has responded to the government’s consultation on reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework, focusing on how national planning policy can better support the rapid deployment of renewable energy, electricity storage and grid infrastructure needed to deliver a clean power system.
Our response draws on engagement with local authority planners and our members’ planning working group, including renewables and energy storage developers. In 2026, Regen has also been delivering training and planning guidance to local authorities on renewable energy and energy storage – work that has highlighted the importance of clear and supportive national guidance.
While there have been improvements in the latest draft of the NPPF, and we are broadly supportive of the direction of travel, Regen calls for changes to go further.
Consistent policy support is critical to deployment
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) should provide stronger policy alignment to ensure renewable energy and storage projects are assessed consistently, regardless of their consenting route. Projects determined by the Town and Country Planning Act (TCPA) do not currently receive the same level of policy support as Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, which receive Critical National Priority (CNP) status. Our response calls for TCPA projects to share CNP status.
Planning policy must reflect how projects are actually delivered
Identifying areas for renewable and low-carbon energy or grid infrastructure often overlooks the technical and commercial factors that determine viable sites – especially the crucial issue of grid connection availability. As a result, locations designated in local plans may not align with where development is feasible. Clear policy is needed to ensure that proposals located outside identified areas remain fully supported and are assessed equally on their merits.
Recognising the strategic importance of repowering, as highlighted in our recent paper A Second Wind: Unleashing the potential of repowering, we call for the NPPF to include a presumption in favour of repowering for sites that propose it. Clear definitions, such as those we suggest, would also help planners apply policy consistently and avoid unnecessary delays.
Stronger local planning capability will be essential
Ultimately, the success of planning reforms will depend on the capacity and capabilities of local planning authorities. Improving planning resource is essential to ensure decisions are timely and well‑informed, and planning officers are able to respond to increasingly complex applications. Policy changes should therefore be accompanied by additional resources, including ongoing training for planning officers (such as Regen's training and guidance), and the introduction of specialist renewable energy planners.
