Comment

Onshore Wind Taskforce Strategy: Modernisation of the environmental assessment system

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has published the Onshore Wind Taskforce Strategy[1], which outlines six ‘Policy Themes’ and 42 ‘Actions’. Action 1 of the Strategy aims to modernise the environmental assessment system. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directors, Alan Pearson and Andy Ricketts, explore the opportunities this reform presents, along with key future considerations for accelerating onshore wind deployment.

Theme 1 covers ‘Site Selection, Preparation and Consenting’ which reflects the need to reduce attrition rates – that is, the number of onshore wind projects that fail to progress through planning to delivery – and ensure streamlined consenting as a critical priority in the achievement of the Clean Power 2030 (CP30) Action Plan ambitions and wider decarbonisation objectives. This is against the backdrop of ensuring that suitable processes are in place so that projects are sited in the most appropriate areas and address potential adverse impacts through avoidance or mitigation where possible. There is a strong emphasis on integrating onshore wind and environmental needs to ensure the continued delivery of positive outcomes for nature and communities.

Action 1: The Government will modernise the existing system of environmental assessment through the introduction of environmental outcomes reports and a nature restoration fund^[2]

The update and reform of the existing systems of environmental assessment in England is welcomed, as it legislates much of the good practice which already exists. The Government’s intention is to replace the current system of EIA across different planning regimes with Environmental Outcome Reports (EORs).  This is to ensure greater proportionality, making environmental assessments simpler, clearer and more cost-efficient. This can only be a good thing for all involved in the process – from developers, stakeholders to decision-makers.  

Whilst we know EORs are coming in England (and have been for some time), how it is delivered in practice still remains unclear. We know that the Government’s intention is that planning decisions would be informed by how projects respond to nationally and locally set environmental objectives. We are fully aware of the challenges as we move from a ‘tried and tested’ environmental assessment regime to something unknown. It will be important that the EOR system has fully considered the feedback from the Office of Environmental Protection, industry and EIA practitioners. It will also be important to ensure synergies with EIA outside of England and across the different planning regimes, acknowledging the changes that are also happening along similar timeframes, such as through the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, update to the National Policy Statements and update/release of a range of supporting legislation, policy and guidance.  

We look forward to the Government publishing the EOR roadmap which was outlined earlier this year in March. We continue to work with industry in preparation for the introduction of the new EOR system ensuring that our clients are ready once EORs are adopted.

We also await further details relating to the proposed Nature Restoration Fund (NRF) and supporting Environmental Delivery Plans (EDPs) being introduced through the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. The proposals continue to be divisive across the industry, and it will be interesting to see how this is implemented in practice and whether it will, as is the intention, simplify and speed up the process, reduce costs and secure the proposed positive environmental outcomes for onshore wind. The concept of NRF and EDPs is currently untested, and as such, further detail is required along with significant commitment to public resources to ensure effective implementation and delivery. With any new system, the bedding in and implementation are likely to be challenging (at least in the short-term) as industry practice is transitioned to a new way of delivery. As such, understanding the Government’s ambitions under the CP30 and the Strategy, any new legislation, policy and supporting guidance will need to be clear on expectations for the onshore wind industry across the UK and the different planning regimes. The industry has a clear mandate from Government for the delivery of projects in its aspiration to realise 27 to 29GW of onshore wind by 2030. As with the introduction of EORs, the confidence in NRF and EDPs relies upon a detailed understanding of the practical implementation, something we are already considering.      

We fully advocate the Government’s commitment in Action 1 to involve industry representatives in the discussions about how these reforms are implemented and look forward to engaging constructively in the near future.  

A step in the right direction, yet questions remain

Overall, we are supportive of improving the environmental assessment regime and speeding up the consenting of onshore wind projects. However, ultimately the ‘proof will be in the pudding’ as the real value of something can only really be judged after it has been tested through delivery. There needs to be a careful balance between the proposed changes and retaining what is good about the existing EIA regime – those aspects that are effective, valued, tried and tested.  It would be unhelpful to the delivery of critical onshore wind infrastructure and streamlining the consenting process, if decisions were delayed as a result of challenges to the EOR process during planning determination. The Strategy is a step in the right direction and it ultimately reiterates the Government’s commitment to the proposed reforms, which we look forward to engaging with further in the near future.

For further information on Action 1 and the modernisation of the environmental assessment process, please contact Alan Pearson or Andy Ricketts. Explore our showcase page for further insights from our wider service teams on some of the other Actions within the Strategy. 

23 July 2025

[1] DESNZ Onshore Wind Taskforce Strategy - July 2025

[2] DESNZ Onshore Wind Taskforce Strategy - Action 1