Keir Starmer plans to cut red tape to fast-track the building of wind farms if Labour are electedÂ
Labour would cut red tape to fast-track construction of onshore wind farms and plants, it has emerged. The party would prioritise projects judged critical to national energy infrastructure as Labour hopes to reaffirm its commitment to green energy. The 'fast-track' green scheme set to be announced by leader Sir later this month would see national planning policy statements updated to promote clean power development. The proposals come after a humiliating few days for Labour during which Shadow Chancellor had to water down a pledge to spend 28billion a year on green industry and jobs after the claimed the idea was unaffordable. Labour climate change spokesman Ed Miliband said of the new plan: 'The Conservative ban on cheap, clean onshore wind has cost families 180 on their energy bills every year since 2015. 'Labour will bring down energy bills for the British people by backing clean, cheap home-grown power for all.' The party plans to impose tough targets and a framework for decisions on plans to ensure construction can take place without delays. But towns and villages many in rural areas who overwhelmingly vote Labour would not lose a veto on new developments, a party source insisted. They told the Mail: 'We want to do it in conjunction with communities bringing them into the process early, working with local people, and making sure they get perks if infrastructure is built close to them. 'We're not looking to override communities or remove their ability to say no if there are concerns, but we do want to speed things up.' Last year Rishi Sunak ended a de facto ban on new onshore wind developments after a row with Tory backbenchers. However, researchers have warned that planning restrictions must be eased on renewable energy developers after the IPPR think-tank warned that at the current rate it will take almost 4,700 years for England to build enough onshore windfarms to help meet the UK's clean energy needs. A Labour source said: 'Every clean energy infrastructure investor we speak to tells us the biggest barrier they face is the planning system. It's fast becoming a national embarrassment. We're determined to fix this and, in contrast to the Tories, we have the political will to do it. 'Businesses know this too, which is why they're so enthusiastic about the prospect of a Labour government. We're speaking their language. That's why, as part of the launch of our climate mission which includes our target to get clean power by 2030 we're going to set out a fast-track scheme for critical energy infrastructure that will speed up decision times and make the process easier, while working with communities. 'As Keir said, we're on the side of the builders, not the blockers.' Last week Mr Sunak suggested 'eco-zealots' from Just Stop Oil and other environmental protest groups were writing Labour's energy policy. The Prime Minister said that Sir Keir was putting 'ideology ahead of jobs, ahead of investment, and ahead of our energy security'.