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.
.jpg)
