Cleantech for UK stands as a distinguished coalition, uniting companies from every facet of the cleantech value chain, alongside investors and coordinators. Together, we are committed to a singular mission: to collaborate with the government in championing the innovators poised to revolutionise the nation’s energy, infrastructure, and environmental landscapes.
As the UK government undertakes a critical reassessment of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), we seized the opportunity to present a set of principle-based recommendations for consideration. Our proposed reforms are designed to sit alongside considerations within the consultation, to help reshape the planning system, ensuring it is primed to foster cleantech investment and empower the scale-up of the UK’s most cutting-edge sustainable technologies.
The planning system is pivotal to delivering on the government's key missions, particularly in driving economic growth and establishing Britain as a clean energy superpower. An efficient, forward-looking planning framework can accelerate the deployment of innovative technologies, creating high-skilled jobs and attracting investment across the country. It can ensure the UK maintains its competitive edge in the global race to develop and scale cleantech solutions. However, the current system often acts as a brake on progress.
Our coalition of investors, company builders, and innovators has found that the existing planning framework is misaligned with the government's ambitions for growth and clean energy leadership.
Without reform, we risk:
⦁ Missing opportunities to create good jobs in every part of the country
⦁ Losing cleantech investment to international competitors
⦁ Delaying the rollout of technologies that could cut energy bills and enhance energy security
To unlock cleantech investment and drive a clean industrial revolution, the planning system needs to embrace flexibility and innovation. Streamlined processes that reduce delays and regulatory bottlenecks will allow new projects to progress faster, ultimately making it easier for startups to scale. Moreover, the planning system must support First-of-a-Kind (FOAK) technologies—pioneering innovations that are being deployed at a commercial scale for the first time. These projects are essential for breaking new ground in clean energy, but they often face hurdles due to the rigid and risk-averse nature of current planning regulations.
Here are six key recommendations to reform the UK's National Planning Policy Framework(NPPF) to better support cleantech development:
Align Industrial Strategy with Net Zero
The UK needs an updated Industrial Strategy that places net zero at its core. This strategy should ensure the planning system actively supports cleantech projects, giving investors the long-term certainty they need to commit to sustainable infrastructure.
Improve Resources for Planning Officers
Local governments require more capacity and expertise to handle cleantech initiatives. Increasing the number of planning officers trained in net zero goals will reduce delays and foster better collaboration between developers and planning authorities.
Enhance Flexibility for Developers
Cleantech projects often evolve after planning applications are submitted. By offering developers greater flexibility in gaining consent for design changes, unnecessary delays can be avoided, allowing projects to progress more efficiently.
Address Regional Disparities
Planning decisions across the UK vary significantly, creating challenges for cleantech startups. Consistent planning approvals across regions are crucial for enabling cleantech innovation to thrive, regardless of location.
Support First-of-a-Kind (FOAK) Projects
FOAK technologies, essential for advancing cleantech, face unique challenges in the planning system. Tailored support, such as transparency in application costs and expedited approval processes, is needed to ensure these pioneering projects succeed.
Empower Local Planning Authorities with Flexibility
Local authorities should be given the autonomy to set and ringfence planning fees based on their unique needs. This would ensure planning departments have adequate resources to handle complex cleantech projects effectively.
The International Energy Agency forecasts a cleantech revolution, largely driven by emerging innovations. However, an astounding 35% of the necessary emissions reductions will rely on technologies that are still in the early stages of development. While we acknowledge that the planning system alone cannot fully drive this transformation, we firmly believe that the proposed reforms will foster a more agile and supportive environment. These changes will help accelerate cleantech investment, allowing the UK to lead in sustainable innovation and progress toward its climate goals more effectively.
If you have any questions or would like a copy of our full response, please contact Charlie Garner, Policy Analyst for Cleantech for UK at charlie.garner@cleantech.com
