Onshore wind planning changes must be just start of net zero push: Beckie Hart

Councils will also have to take into account the view of communities as a whole and not just a small minority in opposition.

And whilst many businesses across the UK – including in Yorkshire and Humber - welcome the Government’s move, there’s a lot of work left to be done to boost our energy transition.

On onshore wind, that means taking the necessary steps to fully unlock investment in this industry and its supply chain.

It’s crucial we start treating onshore wind in line with other forms of energy generation.

Collaboration between business and Government to amend our planning system will be instrumental to that journey.

In autumn, the Government will publish its National Planning Policy Framework.

It’s something firms across the UK are keeping a close eye on.

The framework has the potential to boost investment and speed up the UK’s delivery of net zero.

But there’s plenty more that can be done to accelerate our efforts.

Removing the barriers to our energy transition and stimulating green growth has the opportunity to provide a boost of up to £57 billion to our GDP – that’s the equivalent of 2.4 per cent of UK GDP.

But we can only capture those prizes if the Government takes decisive steps to deliver a clear and stable policy environment for firms.

It should come as no surprise that business confidence has taken a knock recently.

Firms have been faced with a difficult economic environment, with stubbornly high inflation and increased borrowing costs placing immense pressure on firms and households alike.

And the CBI’s most recent Growth Indicator found that private sector activity is expected to continue falling over the next three months, following a year of declining or flat activity.

It’s clear that we need to create a business environment that puts us back on a path to sustainable growth.

To up our economic prospects, bolster our living standards and seize the green growth prizes on offer.

Firms are looking for a clear and stable policy environment – that will help reinvigorate the lacklustre business confidence we’ve seen for some time now.

And members have been telling us that they need a comprehensive and competitive set of incentives to make it easier – and more attractive – to invest in the UK’s green economy.

Incentives that set us apart from our international counterparts, many of whom are already taking great strides to secure green investment from companies across the globe.

And finally, we have to see more efficiency and improved coordination of those mechanisms that can help us deliver on our net zero targets, of course including our planning systems.

Beckie Hart is CBI regional director for Yorkshire and Humber