UK Government Unveils 40-Step Blueprint to Supercharge Onshore Wind Growth by 2030

The UK Government has unveiled a comprehensive 40-step action plan aimed at fast-tracking the rollout of new onshore wind farms. This comes in the wake of last year’s reversal of a long-standing policy that had effectively blocked such projects in England since 2016 when restrictions were first introduced under David Cameron’s leadership.

The plan, developed by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, outlines a roadmap to achieve at least 27 gigawatts of onshore wind capacity by the end of this decade. A more ambitious target of 29 gigawatts is also being considered. Ministers have made it clear that they want 95 per cent of the UK's electricity to come from a mix of renewables and nuclear by 2030, with the remaining share to be filled by gas.

If fully implemented, the strategy could double the size of the onshore wind workforce, creating up to 45,000 skilled jobs nationwide.

There’s also a strong push for developers to give back to local communities. The government plans to update its guidance so that developers offer voluntary financial benefits of £5,000 per megawatt each year to residents living near wind farms. At full capacity, this could mean £70 million in additional community funding annually.

Public support for onshore wind is solid. Government polling shows that 73 per cent of people back the idea, and only 8 per cent say they would oppose a wind farm in their local area. The move follows a similar initiative aimed at expanding the UK’s solar energy capabilities.

The new measures apply to both brand-new wind farms and the upgrading of older turbines. Among the key elements in the plan is the promise of an imminent decision on zonal pricing, a controversial but potentially transformative shift in how electricity costs are distributed across regions.

The plan also confirms the creation of a new onshore wind council, jointly chaired by MP Michael Shanks and EDF CEO Matthieu Hue. This council will convene three times a year, starting this summer, and will be backed by a delivery group that includes wind developers, supply chain firms and government officials.

On the planning side, the government is aiming to streamline what has often been a sluggish and fragmented process. Current efforts include accelerating grid construction, addressing the congested connection queue, and modernising planning rules.

One new commitment is to revise the rules around permitted development. Currently, these rights only apply to small turbines on detached homes — a limitation the plan describes as outdated. Future reforms could make it easier for businesses and communities to build larger, more impactful installations nearby.

All in all, the plan reflects a broader government ambition: to put wind at the heart of the UK’s clean energy future while ensuring communities benefit and the economy gets a boost along the way.

The plan highlights the importance of closing a “resource and intelligence gap across the system that jeopardises the efficient determination of new proposals”. It includes a commitment to equip organisations across the planning system with the knowledge, tools and staff they need.

“Firstly, and in the immediate term, we will enable organisations to better flex and prioritise their headcount so that they can examine mission-critical onshore wind projects faster,” the plan documents state. “We will also review headcount in key organisations to determine whether they are suitable for handling an increased number of projects in the coming years, including the Planning Inspectorate and departmental consenting teams.”

It adds: “Secondly, we will expand cost‑recovery mechanisms across relevant regimes to ensure that all organisations key to consenting have sustainable resourcing models which can match the demand of onshore wind projects in the system into the future.”

The government is also taking a closer look at how contracts for onshore wind are structured, particularly through the Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme. Officials at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero are weighing whether to extend the current 15-year contract period. This change could make CfD contracts more appealing and financially secure for developers planning long-term investments.

“To move ahead with longer contracts for any technology, the Government would need evidence that this was in the interests of consumers,” the plan cautions.

Another issue under review is how auction rounds are calculated, especially the parameters used to predict the financial impact of bids. Developers have raised concerns about the Reference Prices, the estimated average electricity price in Great Britain, which they say may not accurately reflect market conditions or project costs.

In parallel, the government is preparing to launch a new incentive called the Clean Industry Bonus. This will debut in the upcoming seventh allocation round of the CfD scheme, initially for offshore wind. The idea is to reward developers who either source equipment and services locally or offer meaningful benefits to the communities around their wind farms. It’s also a way to ensure that more of the economic benefits from renewable energy remain in regions that often miss out on significant infrastructure investments.

There’s growing interest in expanding this bonus to include onshore wind in the eighth CfD round. The government is also considering whether the bonus should go beyond just procurement and community investment, potentially recognising efforts to create skilled jobs and invest in the workforce. A consultation on that is expected soon.

On a separate note, the government acknowledges that not all developers wish to pursue the CfD route. Some prefer power purchase agreements, or PPAs, as a way to secure long-term revenue. However, smaller buyers, such as local businesses or organisations, often don’t have investment-grade credit ratings, making it harder to secure financing. To address this, the National Wealth Fund is now exploring how it can support wind projects or entire portfolios that rely on PPAs, thereby opening the door to broader participation in clean energy purchasing.

The Fund “will determine the most appropriate product offering for each deal on a case-by-case basis”, the plan document stipulates.