A planning and consenting system that balances rapid deployment with meeting environmental targets and supporting communities
Planning, environment and communities
About planning, environment and communities
For the UK to succeed in building renewable energy generation and infrastructure, we need a planning and consenting system that’s well-resourced, proportionate and consistent.
At RenewableUK, we’re working relentlessly towards a system that rewards good quality applications – ones that make the best, most efficient use of the available resources, and that engage and listen to communities. We also champion applications that work harmoniously with the environment to make sure that while we decarbonise the country, we do so in a way that supports our nature and biodiversity goals.
Community benefits
Community benefits funds are a well-established form of community benefit across the UK for both onshore and offshore wind developments. This map highlights a small selection of the many community benefit funds operating across the UK.
Click on the name of a wind farm below to hear from the communities themselves about their experiences and how community benefits from wind developments have supported their local area.
1. Ray Wind Farm, Vattenfall
2. Pen y Cymoedd Vattenfall
3. Gwynt Y Môr RWE
4. Brechfa Wind Farm RWE
5. Earlsburn Wind Farm Trust
and Kilbraur Wind Farm Nadara
6. Stronelairg Wind Farm SSE Renewables
7. Whitelee Windfarm and Kilgallioch Windfarm
ScottishPower Renewables
8. Camster, RWE
9. SSE Renewables Scholarship Fund, SSE Renewables
Our work in planning, environment and communities
- News
- Publications
- Working groups
RenewableUK runs the following working groups related to planning, environment and communities with its members.
- Planning and Environment Strategy Group - driving strategic alignment and coordination across delivery, policy and engagement, particularly around marine planning, with a view to improving the overall efficiency of the planning system and reduce barriers to deployment.
- Onshore planning and environment (OPEG) - advocating for decreased barriers and challenges in the planning system and increased efficiency, speed, and robustness of the planning process, with a focus on terrestrial planning and environmental issues.
- Cymru planning and environment - enabling strategic collaboration and coordination of consenting matters to ensure the most effective and efficient engagement with the planning system and stakeholders in Wales.
- Late life and decommissioning - establishing industry positions in relation to onshore and offshore wind late-life and decommissioning policies, as well as building on the recommendations in our position paper and supporting establishing RUK positions on onshore late life and decommissioning.