The UK government’s commitment to a clean power system by 2030 necessitates the rapid deployment of renewable energy and storage projects. An efficient and transparent planning system is essential to facilitate this transition. Regen has responded to the government’s Planning Reform Working Paper on Planning Committees, highlighting key recommendations to enhance the process for renewable energy and storage developments.
Planning committees play a crucial role in approving or rejecting projects, including renewable energy applications. However, inconsistent decision making, lack of expertise, and unnecessary delays have hindered progress. Regen supports reforms aimed at improving efficiency, accountability and clarity within planning committees, ensuring that renewable energy and storage projects receive fair and informed consideration. In our response we set out the following five key recommendations:
1. Increasing accountability
One of the most significant challenges faced by renewable energy developers is the rejection of projects that expert planning officers have recommended for approval. Too often, these refusals lead to costly and time-consuming appeals, ultimately delaying essential clean energy projects and causing huge costs for the Local Planning Authority. To help address this challenge, we suggest that planning committees should provide substantial, evidence-based justifications when rejecting applications that have been recommended for approval. Appeal cost data should also be published to highlight the financial burden of unnecessary appeals. A further potential measure could be the introduction of a secondary review process to scrutinise decisions that go against officer recommendations.
2. Clarity on when renewable applications require committee review
We are pleased to see the working paper suggest measures for providing greater clarity on when planning applications require committee review. However, there is a lack of consideration of renewable and storage applications and we are calling for greater clarity for these projects. Such clarity should ensure that applications of a similar nature are delegated consistently across different local authorities unless there is a strong justification, such as a significant impact on a heritage asset or other exceptional circumstances. Without a broadly aligned approach, certain authority areas could become disproportionately targeted for development, creating an uneven planning landscape.
3. Avoiding an objection-based referral model
Some suggest that the number of objections to a project should determine whether it is reviewed by a planning committee. However, this approach risks creating a system where opposition groups can push applications into committee regardless of the legitimacy of their concerns. Decisions should be based on substantive planning concerns, not simply the volume of objections.
4. Mandatory training on the energy system for planning committee members
We welcome the suggestion of mandatory training for planning committee members. However, this must include training on the energy system. Renewable energy and storage technologies are evolving rapidly, yet many planning committee members lack the expertise to make well-informed decisions. This knowledge gap can lead to misconceptions and misinformation affecting critical energy projects. We thus suggest that there should be mandatory training for all planning committee members on renewable energy systems, including emerging technologies and national policy objectives.
5. Addressing local planning authority resourcing
Without adequate staffing and resources, well-intentioned planning reforms risk being undermined by inefficiencies and delays. It is essential that any planning reform comes alongside increased resources and upskilling for local planning authorities.
Regen continues to advocate for a transparent and efficient planning system that facilitates the transition to net zero while maintaining local engagement and confidence in the decision-making process. To work with us in this space please reach out to Rebecca Windemer or join our members working group on planning.