Plans for new onshore windfarms in England have reached their highest annual level in a decade, following the government’s decision to remove restrictions on new developments, reports the Guardian.
Around 45 applications were submitted from 2015 to March 2026, according to an analysis of government data.
The amount of onshore wind capacity entering the planning system has also more than tripled since Labour lifted the restrictions shortly after taking office.
Applications averaged around 36MW a month at the beginning of 2026, compared with about 9MW a month before the 2024 election.
The increase follows years of limited development, with applications averaging just 1MW a month before regulatory changes began in 2023.
However, projects in England remain small. Since restrictions were lifted, proposed developments have totalled 438MW, with an average project consisting of two turbines and around 8MW of capacity.
By comparison, Scotland has seen 5.28GW of onshore wind proposals over the same period.
The resurgence could also provide opportunities for the UK’s wind supply chain, with RenewableUK estimating it could contribute up to £56 billion to the economy by 2050.
