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Onshore Wind Taskforce Strategy: Connecting communities to the clean energy conversation 

The recently published Onshore Wind Taskforce Strategy[1], includes 42 ‘Actions’ aimed at resolving current blockers to onshore wind deployment, particularly in England. Emily Bell and Nick Jones in our Strategic Communications team unpack Actions 15, 20 and 21, highlighting key themes around consultation, community benefit and addressing public perception and misconceptions of onshore wind to support a cohesive clean energy future.

We are encouraged by the ambition driving this Strategy, including Actions 15, 20 and 21. These Actions seek to meaningfully educate and empower individuals to support better understanding and create a more supportive framework for onshore wind delivery in the long-term. The Strategy identifies that the whole industry has a role to play, together with UK Government, in tackling public perception and involving communities in the clean energy conversation.  

Action 15 signals a renewed focus from UK Government on community engagement, by pledging to embed existing good practice guidance into official planning practice^[2]

This move aims to ensure comprehensive engagement is consistently undertaken on onshore wind projects whilst retaining flexibility to respond to the project context. As this guidance filters into planning frameworks, politicians and communities are likely to develop higher expectations for early and meaningful engagement on project details and community benefit. Further detail on our key takeaways on community benefit Actions within the Strategy can be seen here.  

Action 20 and 21 get to the heart of the onshore wind debate, with an ambition to tackle public perception and misconceptions^[3]

Local resistance to development isn’t new, but the UK Government acknowledges there is a need to fill the void where there has been a lack of strategic direction for onshore wind in England over the last 15 years. The Net Zero Public Participation Strategy (Action 20) will develop a proactive national narrative that sets out a framework for onshore wind development. This will focus on the need and significant benefits that onshore wind can and must deliver as part of a diverse energy solution.  

Whilst national direction and clarity in strategic narrative is essential, it cannot work in isolation. It’s important for the story to be told through a local lens, through established and trusted networks in a way that makes sense in a regional context. It’s encouraging to see recognition of this in Action 21 which sets ambitions for targeted and regional campaigns. It’s also right that this Action is not led by Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). Instead, Renewable UK will work together with the wind industry to complement project-level consultation and focus campaign delivery in areas where there is a known pipeline or potential for wind development. As we continue to deliver local engagement for onshore wind projects, we look forward to understanding more from Renewable UK on how regional campaigns will start to take shape to best support shared learnings and complementary campaign delivery.  

By its nature, following the removal of the de facto ban, the strategy has a focus on England. However, public perception and resistance to onshore wind development remains a challenge across the UK. Renewable UK will seek to align with colleagues in Scotland and Wales on the delivery of this Action. We encourage this conversation to extend into Northern Ireland, with collaboration best supporting purposeful change across jurisdictions.

A co-ordinated national and regional approach has the potential to be transformative in supporting sustained and long-term perception change for onshore wind if delivered in a meaningful way. However, change will not happen overnight, and onshore wind projects must continue to progress through planning into delivery now if we are to meet UK Government generation targets and ambitious climate targets. We hope that decision-makers are included as a key audience within the overarching campaign. In the meantime, they will need to be confident and robust in their approach to consider the national (and global) significance of onshore project delivery in the face of local campaigns. We look forward to seeing and feeling the impact of Actions 15, 20 and 21 as we continue to support delivery of onshore wind development over the coming months and years.  

To continue the conversation on consultation, community benefit and tackling the perception of onshore wind, please contact Emily Bell or Nick Jones. Explore further insights on the Strategy on our showcase page. 

22 July 2025

[1] DESNZ Onshore Wind Taskforce Strategy - July 2025 

[2] DESNZ Onshore Wind Taskforce Strategy - Action 15

[3]DESNZ Onshore Wind Taskforce Strategy - Actions 20 and 21