Planning, environment and communities

A planning and consenting system that balances rapid deployment with meeting environmental targets and supporting communities

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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. 

Map of community benefits
Examples of community benefit programmes from wind farms across the UK. This map can be opened in a new window

 


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


 


 

Learn more about community benefits

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.


Onshore planning working group 


Establishing industry positions for advocacy, policy and lobbying purposes relating to terrestrial planning and environment issues. As planning is a devolved issue, it will support and leverage existing expertise, policy and engagement activity and ensure alignment with government policy in Wales (RenewableUK Cymru), Northern Ireland (RenewableNI) and Scotland.


Offshore Consents and Licensing working group 


Establishing industry positions for advocacy, policy and lobbying purposes relating to marine planning, consenting, licensing and environmental issues. The group will concentrate primarily on offshore wind and technologies related to offshore wind