H&H Land & Estates Managing Director Tim Sedgewick believes government plans to prioritise wind farm approvals will be well received by farmers and landowners.

The announcement today of government plans to give ministers the final say on approving large onshore wind farms, will effectively remove the barrier frequently raised by opposition to these rural developments in local council planning processes.

Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer wants to bring large onshore wind projects back into the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) regime in England, giving the government the final say on approving wind farm projects larger than 100MW, rather than councils.

The move is intended to accelerate the Labour government's action plan for reaching 95% clean energy in the UK by 2030, but critics have accused Energy Secretary Ed Milliband of rushing through renewable energy development that will make power more expensive and damage the countryside.

H&H Land & Estates Managing Director, Tim Sedgewick, suggests that both developers and landowners are being frustrated in delivering new capacity by local authority planning delays.

"I believe that these planned changes will be welcomed by many farmers and landowners. In the case of wind turbines, they take up such a minuscule amount of land in relation to say a 250-acre solar Farm.

"We have been involved in facilitating many wind farm transactions over the years and we are currently dealing with several, right at the start of their journey. Landowners have been encouraged to offer suitable land for the full range of renewable generation and storage facilities, and I believe these planned changes will be welcomed by many of them, especially if it speeds up what can be a very long process.

"As guardians of the countryside, farmers and landowners are acutely conscious of their environmental responsibilities, but renewable energy is the cornerstone of the UK's carbon cutting targets, and onshore wind turbines take up a minuscule amount of land compared to a 250-acre solar farm generating an equivalent amount of electricity.

"But like any deal, and particularly long term deals for major developments like a wind farm, it is crucial that farmers and landowners get things right from the outset to avoid any grounds for delays or denial of approval. Professional legal, financial, land agency and negotiation advice are essential, and developers are happy to contribute to all fees incurred to help deliver a successful outcome."

With offices across the north of England, H&H Land & Estates offers a wide range of professional services and its experienced team works closely with landowners, farmers, and rural businesses to help them navigate the complexities of land ownership and management, to ensure sustainable and profitable outcomes.