5 Things You Didn’t Know About Planning for Renewables 

Renewable energy is on the up.

Renewable energy is on the up. From solar panels to wind farms and battery storage, clean tech is popping up all over the place and the UK is slowly but surely going green. But while the headlines are fun and exciting, the nitty gritty of renewable energy project planning is significantly less glamorous.

Here are five things you probably didn’t know about planning for renewable energy (unless you’re a planning nerd like us).

1. Gridlock: It’s Not as Simple as Just Plugging In

One of the biggest challenges in planning for renewables is the grid itself. Across much of the country, the grid is overloaded and connection queues stretch years into the future.

Projects can sit in limbo waiting for a connection offer, while so-called “zombie projects” ahead of them stall progress. This bottleneck can hold up viable schemes and it’s only recently that the system has started to clear the backlog.

That’s why April 2025 was such a milestone. National Grid ESO began rolling out its long-awaited Connection Reform, the idea being that they can free up capacity by prioritising projects that are actually ready to move forward. If it works as intended, this could be a huge game changer for developers navigating planning for renewable energy projects.

2. Turbine Height: Size Does Matter

Bigger turbines mean bigger energy yields. Taller structures capture more wind and operate more efficiently, making them more viable technically, financially and environmentally.

But (of course) they also bring bigger planning challenges. From more intense scrutiny in your LVIA (Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment) to tougher ZTVs (Zones of Theoretical Visibility) and heritage objections, scaling up your turbine often means scaling up your paperwork (and your stress levels).

This is where planning for renewables becomes more than just paperwork; it’s building a robust case to justify every extra metre of height.

3. Landscapes: Not Just a Blot

We often talk about turbines as “blots on the landscape,” but that assumes all landscapes are treated equally in planning terms. They’re not.

There’s a key difference between landscape designations (like National Parks or AONBs/National Landscapes) and landscape character assessments, which look at how a turbine might fit within the surrounding context, regardless of formal protection.

A strong LVIA and accurate ZTVs are vital here, not just to spot issues, but to frame the story. Could the turbine be viewed as a landmark? How does it sit in long/wide views? Is it part of a broader cumulative picture?

And don’t overlook heritage settings. Historic England takes renewable energy policy and visual and cumulative impact near listed buildings and scheduled monuments very seriously. Their guidance is detailed and very much enforced.

4. Local Plans: Supportive in Spirit, Vague in Practice

You’d think that in 2025, with climate targets looming and politicians waxing lyrical about clean growth, Local Plans would be full of proactive policies on renewables. But nope, most are still catching up.

Often, policies will broadly support renewable energy but the detail is vague, contradictory or reliant on site-specific justifications that are near impossible to meet. If you are promoting land for renewables, the bar is often incredibly high.

This is a reminder that renewable energy policy at the local level can lag far behind national ambitions, creating yet another hurdle when planning for renewables.

5. Hidden Hurdles: The Constraints You Don’t See Coming

These are the weird and wonderful considerations, the stuff that trips up otherwise solid schemes.

• Glint and glare: For solar schemes near highways or houses, reflections can cause real safety or amenity concerns. You’ll often need a dedicated assessment to show it won’t blind someone mid-commute.
• Shadow flicker: Wind turbines can cast fast-moving shadows on nearby buildings when the sun is low (think strobe effect). It’s rare but very unpleasant and a big red flag for residential amenity.
• Noise & Aviation: Turbines can mess with radar and certain locations near MoD sites or airports are basically no-go zones. Similarly, wind and battery sites often need noise assessments, especially near housing or otherwise quiet areas.

These are the constraints that often hide in appendices but can tank a renewable energy planning project if not picked up early.

Final Thoughts: Policy Planning and Pragmatism

Turns out, you can’t just stick a wind turbine on a hill, plug it in and call it a day. Wild, I know. Planning for renewable energy is a bit like juggling – technical assessments in one hand, renewable energy policy in the other – all the while trying not to drop the hidden hurdles that sneak up on you.

The good news is that things are changing. With grid connection reforms rolling out and renewable energy project planning starting to get more recognition in Local Plans, there’s hope the process will become a little smoother.

But until then, patience, persistence and maybe a strong cup of tea remain the real essentials for anyone wrestling with planning for renewables.

By Beth Walton.