Win: Labour says onshore wind is back on the map

In her first speech as Chancellor, Rachel Reeves declared Labour will end the “absurd ban” which has put onshore wind to the back of the queue since 2015. She also said she would launch a consultation on putting it back on the list of nationally significant infrastructure projects, so developments can be fast tracked through the planning process.

That’s almost exactly what the legal challenge we launched against the Tory government earlier this year was designed to achieve. So we’ve decided to bank this win and settle the case.

Onshore wind is one of the cheapest ways to generate electricity, making it one of the crucial technologies to hit net zero and help tackle rising energy bills. So we were looking forward to making the case in the High Court for unleashing it across the country.

Since the election, we’ve been keeping up the pressure on the new government, pushing them to give details of their proposed consultation.

According to Bekah Sparrow, legal manager at Good Law Project, Labour have now made a “significant step forward on green issues” which was long overdue.

“Our legal challenge and continued pressure have helped push onshore wind back to the forefront of the UK’s energy policy,” Sparrow said. “However, promises alone aren’t enough – we’ll be closely monitoring the new government to make sure they follow through with meaningful action.”

This dramatic shift is a wind of change for the UK, but a consultation isn’t the same as a change in policy. We’ll be watching to make sure Labour delivers. The future of the UK’s renewable energy – and its role in tackling the climate crisis – depends on it.