TO BE PUBLISHED March 2027
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This conference will consider next steps for onshore wind in England, examining the effectiveness of recent reform and priorities for policy, investment and project development going forward. Areas for discussion include planning changes, access to the electricity network, commercial viability and routes to market, the future of existing wind farms, supply chain and workforce requirements, and priorities for landowners, local communities and the environment.
It is being organised as an opportunity for key stakeholders and policymakers to assess progress since the Government's Onshore Wind Taskforce Strategy set out more than 40 actions for government and industry in July 2025. Delegates will examine the effects of the revised National Planning Policy Framework introduced in August 2026, including whether changes are leading to greater certainty for applicants and planning authorities, and what is needed to address consenting costs, delays and local concerns. The agenda will also consider the implications of grid connections reform for developers and investors, as revised offers affect project timetables, financing arrangements and decisions about whether to proceed.
The conference takes place following a marked increase in onshore wind planning applications in England, although development remains at a relatively early stage and proposals have been predominantly for smaller schemes. Delegates will assess what this indicates about demand for new projects, the prospects for larger developments and the requirements for translating interest into commercially viable investment. Further discussion is expected on the latest Contracts for Difference allocation round, including its timing and results, and the relationship between auction arrangements, connection dates and project economics.
The agenda will also assess the contribution that onshore wind in England might make to the Government's Great Britain-wide Clean Power 2030 objectives, and what this means for future policy, investment and decisions about the scale and location of development, taking account of costs and benefits. Delegates will discuss network investment, electricity system costs and implications for consumers, together with priorities for communities and environmental bodies. The development of the first Strategic Spatial Energy Plan will also be examined, including its proposed approach to the location of generation, land use and electricity infrastructure.
Planning reform, consenting & project development
The conference will examine how recent planning changes are working in practice, including whether they are making decisions more predictable and what may be needed as development activity increases. With applications in England so far predominantly involving smaller schemes, delegates will assess the experience of applicants and planning authorities, the prospects for larger projects and the treatment of local interests.
Areas for discussion include:
- planning policy:
- application of the August 2026 National Planning Policy Framework - weight given to renewable energy benefits
- suitable areas in local plans - treatment of out-of-date or conflicting local policies
- decision-making:
- experience of applications, approvals, refusals and appeals - consistency and predictability - costs and uncertainty for applicants - implications for landowners and communities
- consenting routes:
- the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects regime for schemes exceeding 100MW in England - prospects for larger developments
- differences between national and local consenting, including costs, timescales and consultation requirements
- project development:
- site selection and feasibility - landowner arrangements - development costs and risks - the relationship between planning permission, grid access and investment decisions
- local authority capacity:
- planning expertise and resources - training and support commitments under the Taskforce Strategy - access to specialist advice
- environmental assessment and statutory consultation
- smaller projects:
- proposals for permitted development rights for single small-scale non-domestic turbines - next steps following consultation - implications for farms, businesses and public bodies
- aviation constraints:
- radar interference and mitigation - safeguarding requirements and associated costs - application of updated Civil Aviation Authority guidance, including CAP 764
Grid access, system costs & strategic energy planning
The effects of connections reform on projects in England will be considered, including the experience of revised offers and the consequences of changing connection dates for development and investment. The conference will also examine network constraints and costs, and priorities for planning future electricity infrastructure.
Areas for discussion include:
- connections reform:
- implementation of the National Energy System Operator's Gate 2 to Whole Queue process - experience of revised offers
- treatment of projects at different stages of development - arrangements for future applications
- project viability:
- changes to connection dates and capacity - planning milestones attached to offers
- consequences for financing, construction schedules and contractual commitments - options for projects unable to proceed on revised terms
- network capacity:
- transmission constraints and distribution network readiness - priorities for reinforcement
- regional differences in available capacity - coordination between network operators and developers
- connections & market support:
- connection requirements for Contracts for Difference eligibility - implications for smaller and distribution-connected projects
- coordination of auction and network timetables
- system costs:
- transmission constraints and curtailment of generation - network charges and the location of new capacity
- requirements for flexibility, storage and demand response - implications for electricity consumers
- strategic energy planning:
- development of the first Strategic Spatial Energy Plan ahead of its December 2027 submission deadline - evidence and consultation
- approaches to locating generation and infrastructure - relationship with local planning and network investment
- longer-term priorities:
- progress against the Onshore Wind Taskforce Strategy and the role of the Onshore Wind Council
- England's potential contribution to the Great Britain-wide 27-29GW onshore wind ambition for 2030 - further priorities for government and industry
Investment, supply chains & the future for existing wind farms
The conference will assess the commercial conditions influencing investment in new and existing onshore wind projects, including the latest Contracts for Difference round and alternative routes to market. Sessions will also consider the prospects for investment in supply chains and skills, and the choices facing owners of wind farms approaching the end of their original operating lives.
Areas for discussion include:
- Contracts for Difference:
- Allocation Round 8 budgets and results, subject to the timetable - strike prices and competition
- implications for developers and investors - priorities for subsequent rounds
- commercial viability:
- construction and equipment costs - financing conditions and electricity price expectations - network charges and development risks
- factors influencing decisions to proceed with projects
- routes to market:
- corporate power purchase agreements and merchant electricity sales - long-term revenue certainty
- commercial arrangements for farms, businesses and community organisations, including on-site generation and use
- Clean Industry Bonus:
- extension to onshore wind from Allocation Round 9 - investment requirements and funding arrangements
- implications for developers, UK-based manufacturing, procurement and project costs
- supply chains & skills:
- availability of turbine components, electrical equipment and contractors - confidence in future demand and investment in UK-based suppliers
- engineering, installation and maintenance skills - training, recruitment and opportunities for local businesses
- existing wind farms:
- operational performance and maintenance costs - options for life extension, refurbishment, repowering or decommissioning
- planning and grid requirements - land and lease arrangements - commercial and community considerations
Land use, environment & community interests
Further sessions examine the interests of landowners, communities and environmental bodies in decisions about onshore wind development, including the treatment of local concerns through planning and consenting. Delegates will also consider community benefit arrangements, proposals for further requirements and the options for local participation in ownership and generation.
Areas for discussion include:
- land use & local impacts:
- landscape and visual effects - noise and amenity - agriculture and other land uses - cumulative impacts - differences between sites and communities
- environmental requirements:
- biodiversity and habitats protection - ecological assessment, mitigation and Biodiversity Net Gain
- responsibilities of developers, regulators and statutory consultees
- community engagement:
- early consultation and access to information - participation in local and national consenting
- differing local views - approaches to addressing concerns during construction and operation
- community benefits:
- implementation of the July 2025 guidance and its benchmark of at least £5k per MW annually for qualifying projects - proposals for mandatory arrangements
- administration and accountability - separation of benefits from planning decisions
- ownership & participation:
- shared ownership and community energy models - proposals for a mandatory shared ownership offer
- financial and governance considerations - opportunities for residents and local organisations
- landowners & rural businesses:
- land agreements and lease terms - agricultural operations and diversification
- local economic benefits - responsibilities over a project's life, including decommissioning
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those already due to attend include officials from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero; Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Government Legal Department; Great British Energy - Nuclear; Health and Safety Executive; Office for Investment; Ofgem; the Welsh Government; and The Scottish Government.
