In a dramatic opening move for Britain's new Labour government, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has officially torn up the ban on new onshore wind farms in England, signalling a radical shift in the nation's energy strategy.
Immediate Action on Clean Energy
The decision, confirmed on Monday, represents one of the Starmer administration's first major policy implementations since entering Downing Street. Mr Miliband has wasted no time, having already granted planning consent for three significant solar farms in a clear demonstration of the government's commitment to renewable energy.
'We're getting Britain building again,' declared the Energy Secretary, framing the move as both an environmental imperative and an economic opportunity. The policy reversal ends what critics had long described as a "de facto ban" on new onshore wind projects that had persisted since 2015.
National Infrastructure Service Takes Charge
The sweeping changes don't stop there. The government has announced plans to establish a new National Infrastructure Service (NIS), designed to streamline and accelerate major projects across England and Wales. This body will assume responsibility for planning decisions on nationally significant infrastructure, taking over from the current Planning Inspectorate.
Meanwhile, in a parallel development highlighting the government's broader constitutional approach, Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens has initiated the process of repealing the controversial UK Internal Market Act. This legislation, introduced post-Brexit, had been a significant point of contention with devolved governments.
A New Era for Energy and Devolution
The coordinated announcements paint a picture of a government moving swiftly on multiple fronts. While Mr Miliband focuses on accelerating the transition to clean energy, Ms Stevens works to reset relations with devolved administrations.
This dual approach underscores Labour's strategy of combining ambitious climate action with a more collaborative approach to the UK's constitutional framework. The energy sector and environmental groups have largely welcomed the announcements, seeing them as a decisive break from previous policy.
As the first onshore wind turbines in nearly a decade prepare for construction across England, the Starmer government appears determined to make rapid progress on its manifesto commitments, setting the tone for what promises to be a transformative parliamentary term.
