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Bright Blue, the independent think tank for liberal conservatism, has today published a new report: Up in the air? Delivering clean air in a socially just way. The report analyses the scale of, impact of and solutions for air pollution in England’s deprived areas.

The report focuses on the impact of and policies for two sectors that are especially responsible for air pollution in deprived areas: transport and domestic burning, which are the biggest contributors to NOx and PM2.5 air pollutants. 

The report is based on findings of focus groups with people living in different deprived areas of three English cities: Birmingham, Liverpool and London.

Action on air pollution has become increasingly politicised in recent years, which risks stalling necessary progress on reducing air pollution. This report proposes seven new policy recommendations to reduce air pollution, but ones that support rather than penalise those living in deprived areas and ones that command public support.

Will Prescott, Researcher at Bright Blue and lead author of the report, commented:

“People will be far more likely to support Clean Air Zones if they don’t unduly penalise the least well off. We need sensible adjustments to Clean Air Zones that offer an equitable way to improve cleaner air quality in England’s deprived areas.”

Alexander Stafford MP, member of the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee, commented:

“We must ensure that our transition towards cleaner air is a just transition and that we bring everyone with us as we move towards cleaner air. Policies which ignore the needs of the least well-off are as useless as policies which will not provide adequate air pollution reduction – these objectives must be balanced. This very detailed report sets out the difficult path that policymakers must tread, and presents real strategies to overcome these issues.”

Jo Gideon MP, Conservative MP for Stoke-on-Trent Central, commented:

“This report from Bright Blue highlights a crucial truth: addressing air pollution demands a balance between environmental progress and social justice. It is not acceptable if measures to improve air quality damage our local economy and risk jobs, and measures to improve air quality must not merely move the problem elsewhere. A holistic approach is needed to improve air quality, to make sure the harmful effects of air pollution are no longer felt across people’s lifetimes. Implementing policies that target pollution without penalizing the vulnerable is key to a cleaner, fairer future.”

Transport

• Require Clean Air Zones (CAZs) to differentiate charges for driving in inner cities and outer urban areas.

Local authorities and the Mayor of London have discretion as to how much vehicles are charged for entering a CAZ.

To date, London ULEZ is the only CAZ that covers almost an entire urban area. When the ULEZ expanded on 31 August 2023 to include the entire territory under the jurisdiction of the Greater London Authority, all non-compliant vehicles became liable to pay a £12.50 daily charge to drive within the zone. This is notwithstanding that the quality of public transport is significantly worse in outer London than it is in inner London and outer London residents are more car-dependent as a result.

We recommend that central government require that local authorities and the Mayor of London introduce differentiated charging regimes between their inner city and outer urban areas for any city-wide CAZ, to reflect the varying availability of public transport.  

• Clean Air Zones (CAZs) should provide exemptions for all Blue Badge holders.

Local authorities and the Mayor of London have discretion as to whether they wish to apply any exemptions for any road charging schemes, such as CAZs. Local authorities may grant discounts or exemptions for Blue Badge holders.

Reflecting this, the cities with Class D CAZs, that is those CAZs that charge non-compliant private vehicles to enter, have provided different exemptions for disabled residents. For example, Bristol’s CAZ introduced temporary exemptions for Blue Badge holders, while Birmingham’s CAZ did not provide any exemptions for Blue Badge holders.

We recommend that central government require local authorities and the Mayor of London to grant exemptions to all Blue Badge holders in Class D CAZs. As the clearest legal indicator of disability, Blue Badge holder status would be the fairest way to protect disabled people from the adverse consequences of charging CAZs.

• Enable local authorities to strive for ‘reasonable profits’ from their charging Clean Air Zones (CAZs) to fund targeted, generous scrappage schemes in the short term.

Local authorities or the Mayor of London cannot set charges in CAZs or the ULEZ to raise revenue. Any additional revenue raised from CAZs must be reinvested to “facilitate the achievement of local transport policies”.

To provide support to those needing to upgrade non-compliant vehicles, the UK Government provided funding for two of the cities with Class D CAZs (Birmingham and Bristol), but did not provide any support for London’s ULEZ scrappage scheme, which was entirely funded by the GLA itself. Unfortunately, the support available to vehicle owners has not proved enough to cover the cost of purchasing compliant vehicles.

We recommend the UK central government allow local and combined authorities to pursue ‘reasonable profits’ from their CAZs, so long as those profits are only used to provide more generous scrappage schemes that are specifically targeted at those from deprived areas.

• The Government should immediately pilot a voluntary road pricing scheme for all road users ahead of a national rollout, that includes a discount for those on low incomes.

We recommend that, to gradually detoxify per-mile road pricing, the UK government immediately trial a road pricing scheme for all road users. It would be an ‘opt in’ scheme, with those volunteering to participate being exempt from Fuel Duty. An immediate set of pilots would lay the groundwork for a national rollout of road pricing schemes from around 2035. To incentivise participation in the trial, government might consider what sorts of monetary incentives would be appropriate.

Because of the risk that the introduction of a road pricing scheme slows the adoption of electric vehicles, government could also introduce a temporary ‘green miles’ scheme that offers a certain proportion of discounted or free miles to those electric vehicles. This would be phased out over time. 

We further recommend that such a scheme provide a ‘free mileage’ which means allowing motorists to drive a set number of miles before they would have to start paying. This would be targeted, with those from deprived areas, those living in areas with inadequate access to public transport, as well as disabled people, receiving higher free mileage allowances than the general population. 

Domestic burning

• Amend the Clean Air Act 1993 to permit local authorities to ban completely dometic burning in smoke control areas on days when the DAQI score is forecast to be at a level harmful to human health.

Local authorities may currently designate certain areas to be smoke control areas. In those areas, domestic burning is prohibited unless it is done using an ‘exempt appliance’, that is a Defra-approved stove, or, if the stove is not an exempt appliance, the burning is carried out with a Defra-approved fuel. While Defra-approved stoves and fuels produce less PM2.5 emissions than non-approved stoves or fuels, they still produce substantial emissions that local authorities cannot stop. This is especially significant given that domestic burning is now the largest single source of PM2.5 emissions in the UK.

To help address this problem, we recommend that local authorities be given the power to ban domestic burning completely on days when air pollution is forecast to be harmful to human health. Exemptions would be available for the very small number of households with no alternative source of heating.

There are several ways to communicate these temporary bans to the public. Australia provides several examples of these. Australia communicates regional fire bans through a combination of announcements on radio, television and internet weather forecasts, social media updates, and government agency websites. Although in a different context – to stop outdoor burning to prevent the outbreak of bushfires rather than to stop domestic burning to reduce concentrations of air pollution – these approaches could be used to communicate when the bans are in effect. 

• Ban the sale of new stoves that emit more than 150g of PM2.5 for every gigajoule of energy produced

The UK recently banned the installation of new stoves that failed to meet the new Ecodesign standards, meaning stoves that emit up to 375g of PM2.5 for every gigajoule of energy produced.

However, Ecodesign stoves still produce PM2.5 emissions 750 times greater per hour than an HGV vehicle, and more than 450 times more PM2.5 emissions per hour than a gas boiler. As such, even the new standards still permit far higher than acceptable emissions of PM­2.5.

While we do not support an outright ban on the installation of new stoves, we recommend that Defra further tighten emissions standards to ensure that no new stoves emit more than 150g of PM2.5 for every gigajoule of energy produced, which is the official standard in the Nordic countries.

• Warning labels to be added to all new and refurbished stoves.

There is little public awareness of the harmful medical effects that domestic burning causes not only to people who burn indoors themselves, but to their neighbours. This is reflected in the recent increase in sales of stoves in recent years. It is also reflected in the mistaken belief among many people, especially among more affluent households, that domestic burning is a safer, more environmentally friendly way of heating one’s home than gas boilers.

New stoves are required to have an energy rating label attached, but not a health warning.  The UK’s statutory guidance for combustion appliances, which includes stoves, requires them “to incorporate an appropriate means of warning of a release of carbon monoxide”. However, the guidance contains no requirement for new stoves to contain labels warning about the negative health consequences of the outdoor pollution that stoves emit, particularly emissions of PM­2.5. 

We recommend that Defra require that all new stoves have mandatory warning labels attached that specifically highlight the negative medical consequences of the outdoor air pollution that even Defra-approved stoves still produce.

Matt Towner, Programme Director of the Health effects of air pollution programme at Impact on Urban Health, said:

“Most people living in the UK breathe dangerously high levels of air pollution every day. From increased rates of cancer to heart disease, asthma, and even links to dementia, air pollution is having an immense impact on our lives.

“And some people are more affected than others: Children, Black people and people from other minoritised communities, and people living in areas of deprivation in our towns and cities.

“But there’s good news: air pollution can be fixed. Bright Blue’s new report provides useful recommendations for Government to start improving air quality in a way that supports the health of those most affected.”

Livi Elsmore, Campaign Manager of the Healthy Air Coalition, commented:

“This is an important report, that shines a light on the opportunities for ambitious clean air policies that protect our health while promoting fairness by design.

Air pollution from road transport and burning wood at home harms our health when we breathe it in, and all levels of government must take action to reduce pollution levels. Clean air zones are one tried and tested method of reducing harmful pollution, quickly and efficiently. 

We welcome and support proposals for cleaning up toxic air that do not place undue burden on the least well-off, or those least able to switch to cleaner transport and home heating options.”

Jane Burston, CEO of the Clean Air Fund, comments:

“It’s crucial that clean air policies, which are designed to improve health for people primarily living in urban areas, are designed with the most vulnerable in mind. The recommendations in this report take an evidence-based, people-centred approach, which is crucial for the successful introduction of any clean air policy, and will help to win support from affected communities and thereby secure cleaner air for the longer term.”

Caitie Gillett, Clean Air Programme Manager at the Conservative Environment Network, comments:

“This report highlights the progress made over the last 20 years to improve air quality. But, it also reminds us that there is still a significant amount to be done to reduce our exposure to air pollution and offers some tangible policies to bring it down to safer levels. In particular, it is welcome to see measures to reduce pollution from burning in the home – such as fireplaces and stoves. Air pollution from indoor burning is a significant portion of harmful air pollution, yet is often neglected by policymakers. In particular, improving stove standards and adding labels to all new and refurbished stoves are pragmatic policies which could help clean up the air.”

ENDS

 Notes to editors

To arrange an interview with a Bright Blue spokesperson or for further media enquiries, please contact Emily Taylor at emily@brightblue.org.uk or 07841 419316. 

• Bright Blue is the independent think tank and pressure group for liberal conservatism.
• This report is kindly sponsored by the Impact on Urban Health. Bright Blue has had complete editorial control over the report. The report does not necessarily reflect the views of our sponsor.
• Our advisory council can be found here. We also have 230 parliamentary supporters. Members of our advisory council, the Bright Blue Community and our parliamentary supporters do not necessarily endorse all our policy recommendations.

Bright Blue, the independent think tank for liberal conservatism, has today announced the launch of its new Community, bringing together a number of MPs and Peers, as well as Bright Blue staff, fellows and members, to work intensely with Bright Blue on shaping and promoting liberal conservative policies in 2024 and beyond.

Bright Blue’s Community is a collection of like-minded people inside and outside Parliament who will work closely with Bright Blue to shape and promote liberal conservative policies to influence the manifestos of the 2024 general election and beyond. 

The Community is launched alongside the appointment of 8 new associate fellows – young talented thinkers and campaigners who are the future of the UK centre-right. Bright Blue is appointing a new Executive Director in the New Year to work with our Executive Chair, Ryan Shorthouse, to strengthen Bright Blue’s leadership.

The Community sits alongside Bright Blue’s 220 Parliamentary Supporters and our around 1,000 members.

Bright Blue’s Community seeks to ensure the centre-right in the UK prioritises liberal, meritocratic, institutionalist and internationalist policies that foster economic, environmental and social responsibility. 

Bright Blue’s Community seeks to make the centre-right focus on 8 key principles in its policymaking: pro-market rather than free-market; optimistic about human potential, technological progress and the future of our society; evidence-led rather than ideological in tacking problems; defending and reforming longstanding institutions; better rewarding economic and social contribution; tackling social, economic and intergenerational injustices; celebrating open and integrated societies; and thwarting climate change and biodiversity decline.

Ryan Shorthouse, Executive Chair of Bright Blue, commented:

“The centre-right in UK politics needs reviving. Bright Blue is bringing together a community of people inside and outside parliament who want a flourishing liberal, meritocratic, pro-market, internationalist and institutionalist centre-right in the UK in the years ahead. 

“A centre-right that is economically, socially and environmentally responsible – and does more to attract and support younger people – is one that in the years ahead can win the hearts and minds of the public, and can change the country for the better.”

Current members of the Bright Blue Community include:

1. The Rt Hon. Sir Robert Buckland MP
2. The Rt Hon. Damian Green MP
3. The Rt Hon. Dame Caroline Dinenage MP
4. Dr Lisa Cameron MP
5. Lord Ed Vaizey
6. John Penrose MP
7. Damian Collins MP
8. John Stevenson MP
9. The Rt Hon. Alun Cairns MP
10. Stephen Hammond MP
11. Chris Clarkson MP
12. The Rt Hon. Chloe Smith MP
13. Flick Drummond MP 
14. Alexander Stafford MP
15. Peter Aldous MP
16. Simon Fell MP
17. Ben Everitt MP
18. David Simmonds MP
19. Selaine Saxby MP
20. Bob Blackman MP
21. Jane Hunt MP
22. Sally-Ann Hart MP
23. Matt Warman MP
24. Baroness Nicky Morgan
25. Mark Garnier MP

Co-Head of Social Policy The Rt Hon Sir Robert Buckland MP, former Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor, commented:

“One Nation Conservatism is all about supporting the individual as a member of a greater society. That means the Government has a responsibility to look after vulnerable people, and with responsibility comes challenges. We have a strained judicial system, disabled and neurodiverse people facing social isolation, a seemingly intractable immigration crisis, hardship brought on by the increased cost of living and an economic malaise left in the wake of a global pandemic and a war in Europe.

“In seeking to address these issues, policymakers must think hard about how attention and resources are being applied to empower and support those who bear the brunt of the challenges of 2023 and beyond. 

“To that end, I am thrilled to assume the role of Head of Social Policy in the Bright Blue Community – a vibrant group of thinkers who share a commitment to liberal conservative ideals, and who will strive to advance a set of policies that achieve progress for our country while ensuring vulnerable people are not left behind.”

Co-Head of Economic and Employment Policy John Penrose MP, the former UK Anti-Corruption Champion and Co-Chair of the Inclusive Growth APPG, commented:

“Bright Blue is a doughty champion of liberal conservatism, so I’m delighted to be part of their thought-leadership group. A combination of Artificial Intelligence, distance working and global increases in the supply of educated middle-class graduates from developing nations will mean huge changes for millions of employers and their staff, and disrupt the service industries which underpin the UK’s economy. How we work will inevitably look different as a result of these changes, and Bright Blue will be a great forum to generate new ideas to help British workers and the UK’s economy emerge as winners as the world adjusts to these seismic shifts.”

Head of Education Policy Flick Drummond MP, Member of the Education Select Committee, commented:

“Equal opportunities are a fundamental aspiration for any country. The cornerstone of achieving this is education. A strong educational foundation is essential to offer each child the chance to prosper and pave the way for a brighter future. It is the gateway to higher-paying careers, amplifies social mobility and serves as the bedrock of national prosperity.

“I am glad to be joining the Bright Blue Community as Head of Education, a role from which I will continue to push for innovative and bold liberal conservative solutions to the challenges facing our education system. Bright Blue has shown a commendable commitment to fostering an environment where every child can thrive. I am excited to play a role in progressing these ideals as part of a dedicated group striving to empower all.”

Co-Head of Energy and Environment Policy Alexander Stafford MP, Member of the Energy Security and Net Zero Select Committee, commented:

“At a time when for the UK public, environmental and energy concerns stand out as some of the most urgent issues, it is of paramount importance that we continue to advocate for pragmatic, yet bold, policies that will shape a greener and more sustainable Britain – one that restores our place as international torchbearers for energy security and environmental sustainability. I am excited to join the Bright Blue Community as Co-Head of Environment and Energy Policy, a position from which I will continue to advocate for policy that will allow the UK to build back greener. I am confident that the Bright Blue Community of MPs will hold a pivotal role in the years ahead, and I am looking forward to driving positive change not only in the realm of environmental policy, but also across a range of economic and social issues.”

Co-Head of Energy and Environment Policy Peter Aldous MP, Chair of the British Offshore Oil and Gas Industry APPG and Vice-Chair of the Renewable and Sustainable Energy APPG, commented:

“The public remains deeply concerned about climate change and recognises the ongoing need for green measures that are fair and which support them. In our journey towards achieving a net-zero future, it is vital to have advocates championing a liberal conservative vision for a greener tomorrow. I am delighted to join the Bright Blue Community as Co-Head of Environment and Energy Policy, where I will promote climate-friendly and practical policies that will benefit all and will create exciting new job opportunities. 

“The Bright Blue Community will be a group of ardent advocates for societal improvement, not limited to environmental and energy matters but extending to economic and social policy. Together, we are working towards a fairer and more prosperous Britain.”

Head of Housing Policy Ben Everitt MP, Member of the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Select Committee, commented:

“I’m very pleased to join Bright Blue, heading the Housing Community. Housing is so important for our future and either enables or supports nearly every other aspect of public policy.

I want to bring my years of knowledge gained in politics and the private sector, and my experience cultivating industry leader’s voices as Chair of the APPG for Housing Market and Housing Delivery, to champion vital policy research and help shape the Conservative Party’s long term strategy.”

Bob Blackman MP, Member of Parliament for Harrow East, commented:

“Liberal conservatism is all about being optimistic about human potential. Currently, not enough people have the opportunities to go as far as their hard work deserves. The Conservative Party needs a fresh vision and bold solutions to tackle pressing challenges: homelessness, youth empowerment, and technological advancements, to name but a few. Bright Blue’s leadership in solving these challenges through ideas that value and reward both economic and social contributions will advance our country’s prosperity and our Party’s future.”

Selaine Saxby MP, Member of Parliament for North Devon, commented:

“In today’s dynamic but volatile politics, it is crucial to have a united community to champion liberal conservatism. By fostering a commitment to liberal values, the Conservative Party can forge a direction that aligns not only with public expectations from their leaders but also with the nation’s requirements amidst numerous challenges—be they political, economic, or social. I look forward to joining Bright Blue’s group and am sure that, together, we will be able to make the decisions that take the country and Party forward.”

Dr Lisa Cameron MP, Member of Parliament for East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow, commented:

“Amidst growing voices from both extremes that stoke divides, we need ideas from the centre-right that bring people together, equip them to take control of their lives, make the most of the opportunities presented to them, and spread affluence equitably across all four nations. Bright Blue’s new group will be of great benefit to our politics by charting a course for the future of the Conservative Party and the country.”

The Rt Hon. Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, Member of Parliament for Gosport, commented:

“It is vital we demonstrate the benefits of the centre ground through a compassionate and pragmatic conservatism that champions fairness and opportunity for all the country’s citizens. Bringing together like-minded liberal conservatives will represent a huge asset to our political landscape and I am confident that Bright Blue’s new initiative will champion these voices in a way that is both constructive and empowering.”

David Simmonds MP, Member of Parliament for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner, commented:

“I truly believe that our nation and democracy are best served by Liberal, One Nation values. At every level of Government, elected officials should look to these principles to ensure a promising future for both the country and the Conservative Party. Instead of putting the most vulnerable at a disadvantage, our policies and laws should actively secure the rights and opportunities for all, spanning policy areas, from housing to immigration. Our political landscape is calling for a positive shift, and I’m confident that this group of MPs and Peers has the capability to deliver this change.”

Chris Clarkson MP, Member of Parliament for Heywood and Middleton, commented:

“New ideas are needed to constantly revitalise the Conservative Party and ensure our core principles stay relevant to our society. These must stem from liberal values, emphasising economic and social responsibility whilst ensuring a safety net for those who need it most. Our Party has always been one that champions equality of opportunity and this should always be our North Star. Bright Blue’s open, progressive-conservative principles foster this legacy for the next generation, enabling those who can take up the advantages of our society, without leaving behind those who cannot.”

The Rt Hon. Chloe Smith MP, Member of Parliament for Norwich North, commented:

“Bright Blue are energetic and ambitious in articulating good ideas and providing the evidence and connections that help liberal Conservatism to win important arguments in the public service.”

Simon Fell MP, Member of Parliament for Barrow and Furness, commented:

“Elections are won in the centre ground, and after a divisive few years, the people of Britain are craving a calmer, more pragmatic, politics that speaks with compassion rather than defining itself against others. Conservatism is about creating the ladder of opportunity, gearing the state to give everyone, no matter their background or geography, a fair chance. I look forward to working with Bright Blue on their new project, helping shape the new ideas we need to challenge and refresh our approach to delivering for the British people.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

To arrange an interview with a Bright Blue spokesperson or for further media enquiries, please contact Emily Taylor at emily@brightblue.org.uk or 07841 419316. 

• Bright Blue is the independent think tank and pressure group for liberal conservatism.
• Our advisory council can be found here. We also have 220 parliamentary supporters. Members of our advisory council, the Bright Blue Community and our parliamentary supporters do not necessarily endorse all our policy recommendations.
• Bright Blue is appointing a new Executive Director in the New Year to work with our Executive Chair, Ryan Shorthouse, to strengthen Bright Blue’s leadership.
• Bright Blue’s new Associate Fellows include: David Thomas, John Oxley, Dr Rakib Ehsan, Isabella Wallersteiner, James Cowling, Joseph Tetlow, Max Anderson and Phoebe Arslanagić-Little.

Bright Blue, the independent think tank for liberal conservatism, has today published a new report, Resilient neighbourhoods, powered by low-carbon energy, offering new policy recommendations to reform planning to facilitate an increase in the generation capacity of the three main renewable energy technologies in England: solar, onshore wind and offshore wind.

The report examines the impact of and recent changes to planning policy for solar, onshore wind and offshore wind, concluding that recent approaches have been inconsistent.

The report’s recommendations therefore flow from four key principles:

1. The UK needs to pursue the best net zero energy transition, not simply the quickest.
2. Planning processes need to strike an effective compromise between development delivery, community engagement and protecting the environment.
3. The role of planning in energy decarbonisation varies depending on the decarbonisation pathways pursued, including the technologies prioritised and the balance between technical and behavioural solutions.
4. The role of planning should not be viewed in isolation, but as interconnected with other public policy instruments.

Professor Richard Cowell, author of the report, commented:

“The UK has already achieved significant progress in decarbonising the power sector, but more still needs to be done. Replacing the ‘triple veto’ policy concerning onshore wind developments could lead to a renaissance of onshore wind in England.

“By 2050, our renewable energy generation capacity needs to increase by at least fivefold but in the last couple of years government efforts to facilitate this have been negligible. We need bold action.”

Ryan Shorthouse, Executive Chair of Bright Blue, commented:

“Britain urgently needs to get building – and renewable energy development, in particular, for both economic and environmental reasons. If we as a nation are going to make better long-term decisions for future generations, then ensuring there is much more renewable energy capacity – particularly onshore wind – is absolutely vital.”

This report recommends nine original policies to boost solar, onshore wind and offshore wind energy capacity:

1. Abolish the ‘triple veto’ planning policy for onshore wind from the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

After the 2015 general election, the Government took forward its manifesto commitment to “halt the spread of subsidised onshore wind farms” and “change the law so that local people have the final say on wind farm applications”. Consequently, new non-statutory guidance for onshore wind was added to the NPPF. This, in effect, created a triple veto on planning policy requirements for onshore wind in the NPPF: proposals have to be located in an identified spatial zone, impacts have to be appropriately addressed, and proposals have to demonstrate community support.

We support the abolition of the triple veto due to the significant barriers it creates for the development of new onshore wind schemes in England.

For instance, there has been no obligation on Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) to identify areas suitable for onshore wind to support the first test, without which wind energy development is precluded. In addition, onshore wind farms over 50MW were taken out of the fast-tracked, central, NSIP consenting processes, and instead passed to local authorities to determine, subjecting them to the same three tests.

However, it is important to learn about the factors behind the social disquiet that precipitated the triple veto policy. There are legitimate concerns about location, impacts on place, and sense of fairness that shape public responses to individual applications. Moreover, the wind industry has changed since 2015. Larger turbines are now the industry standard, lowering costs but risking greater visual intrusion.

Rather than simply abolishing the triple veto and doing nothing else, planning policy for onshore wind should also be refined in line with the other recommendations of this report.

2. Enable Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) that seek to encourage more renewable energy development through proactive spatial zoning to access a pot of central government resources.

There is a need to adequately resource planners and other environmental regulators in order to ensure that the operation of planning processes for renewable energy investment is not needlessly delayed. Important measures to address this are being undertaken. For example, measures are coming forward through the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 to enable statutory environmental regulators to charge for their services in handling NSIPs. However, ways also need to be found to channel more resources to LPAs, many of which may be looking to handle large numbers of lower-scale applications. 

This should not be excessively costly – according to the Royal Town Planning Institute, in 2020-21, net expenditure by planning authorities was just £480 million, which is only around 0.4% of the total expenditure by English local authorities. 

One mechanism to achieve better resourcing of LPAs should be to enable those LPAs that seek to encourage more renewable energy development through proactive spatial zoning to access a pot of public resources. In order to avoid a time-costly bidding process, resources from said pot could be accessed by LPAs automatically if they fulfil certain criteria surrounding the promotion of renewable energy. Those resources could be an extension of the existing Planning Skills Delivery Fund – a £24 million grant from the DLUHC to help local authorities with the implementation of the reforms in the 2023 Levelling Up and Regeneration Act. Such resourcing could prioritise those LPAs with significant potential for renewable energy generation and which have considerable need and desire to coordinate the exploitation of this capacity.

In the 2023 Autumn Statement, the Government already committed a modest £5 million of extra funding for the Planning Skills Delivery Fund to target planning application backlogs, therefore there already exists a precedent for more targeted extensions to the Fund, but, ideally, central government subsidy of LPAs should be more extensive.

3. Institute a minimum level of community benefits at £5,000 per MW per year by making it a requirement of Contract for Difference (CfD) applications for renewable energy developments.

One of the challenges in promoting the use of community benefits in conjunction with renewable energy developments is how one can move beyond voluntary community provisions by developers and towards institutionalising community benefits as a firmer requirement of development consent. The current use of community benefits in facilitating the release of planning consent is problematic. An alternative mechanism would be to attach the requirement for community benefits to contracts between prospective developers and public bodies, where those bodies control key aspects of the development process, such as land or market support. 

The provision of community benefits should be tied to the creation of CfDs for major new renewable energy projects. Government is already exploring the scope for including non-price factors into the CfD scheme, such as around skills development. Instituting a minimum level of community benefits through CfD rounds would avoid downward competition between developers on the level of community benefits without stifling creativity on how such benefits are structured or deployed. Such a measure should prevent communities from losing out from any wider downward pressure on prices. The minimum level of community benefits could be set at £5000/MWh for onshore wind, and more for more profitable technologies, such as large-scale solar PV or offshore wind.

4. Adjust the NPPF to positively encourage Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) to plan for onshore wind.

5. Amend the NPPF to adopt a presumption in favour of onshore wind development within all industrial and commercial sites, as well as promote the development of onshore wind at all sites with sufficient grid capacity for large-scale low-carbon energy development.

6. Create an Onshore Wind Acceleration Taskforce.

7. Use the Solar Taskforce to collate evidence on planning outcomes from LPAs that already issue non-statutory guidance on acceptable greenfield locations for solar PV.

8. Use the Marine Management Organisation to draw up marine spatial plans for English offshore waters that demarcate more closely those areas likely to be the most acceptable for offshore wind, gas and oil development and those which are more sensitive and should be avoided.

9. Deliver a precise Land Use Framework for England to provide a useful knowledge base for LPAs.

Alexander Stafford MP, member of the Energy Security and Net Zero Select Committee, commented:

“The UK’s often-restrictive planning regulations need to be overhauled if we are going to be able to meet our net zero targets by 2050. We must allow communities to not only be able to Build Back Greener, but also have a voice in how best to ensure that their area can take advantage of the jobs, investment, and opportunities that will come from renewables. This report highlights the importance of making this change, especially for economies both local and national, and I look forward to seeing how the Government will take forward its recommendations.”

Stephen Hammond MP, former Parliamentary Under Secretary to the Department for Transport, commented:

“Renewable energy is a unique opportunity for the UK. It will create economic opportunity and investment, provide cheaper bills for UK households and ensure long-term energy security. Successive Conservative Governments have recognised this and helped turn the UK into a renewable energy superpower. Under our Party, we have managed to build the first, second, third and fourth biggest offshore wind farms in the world. 

“However, we have seen both the US and China make significant investments in their own domestic renewable energy. Now is the time for us to go further and faster on solar energy as well as onshore and offshore wind. We should look to reform the planning system to make investment in and the delivery of renewable technologies quicker and easier. Bright Blue’s report is timely and welcome, providing some interesting ideas into how we can turbocharge the sector. 

“Furthermore, the One Nation caucus recognises embracing these policies will provide an electoral boost for our party. We are delivering on net zero for our country and should harness further investment in renewables to create positive and sustainable energy sources for the UK.”

Wera Hobhouse MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Energy and Climate Change and Transport, commented:

“It is time for the triple veto to go. It has allowed the Government to dither and delay over developing desperately needed onshore wind schemes in England. The current restrictions should be removed to speed up the deployment of renewable power and guarantee security of energy supply. We need new onshore wind investment so that we can rapidly cut bills for the millions of families struggling to afford them. From new green jobs to lower energy bills, onshore wind can hugely benefit local communities.”

Sam Hall, Director at the Conservative Environment Network, commented:

“A global renewable energy boom is underway, with record levels of solar and wind set to be built around the world this year. To keep pace and attract some of this investment, the UK must reform our planning system to make it easier and faster to build new wind and solar, while ensuring we bring communities with us. Expanding renewable energy will benefit our energy security, reduce bills, cut gas imports, and lower emissions. 

“The Government deserves significant credit for recently setting out moves to speed up planning decisions for renewables, but there is more to do, particularly around support for local energy planning and mandatory community benefits as this report highlights. Fast-tracking planning approval for onshore wind on industrial sites is an excellent recommendation that would improve international competitiveness and boost economic growth, with minimal impact on local communities.”

Roger Mortlock, Chief Executive at the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), commented:

“Climate change is the greatest threat to our countryside, putting food security, wildlife and iconic landscapes at risk. We urgently need a fair and fast transition to a net-zero energy system that empowers rural communities to identify the sites, technologies and scales appropriate for their local landscapes. This will require well-resourced local planning departments and a national land-use framework that prioritises brownfield development, puts rooftop solar first and protects valuable landscapes, farmland and working farms. 

“As the report highlights, new renewable energy schemes must benefit the rural communities that host them. The Government must update the 2015 Shared Ownership Framework, legally obliging all developers of commercial renewables infrastructure exceeding £2.5 million in project costs to offer interested communities the opportunity to acquire a stake of at least 25%”. 

Read the full report here.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

To arrange an interview with a Bright Blue spokesperson or for further media enquiries, please contact Emily Taylor at emily@brightblue.org.uk or on 07841 419316.

• Bright Blue is the independent think tank and pressure group for liberal conservatism.
• This report is kindly sponsored by the European Climate Foundation. Bright Blue has had complete editorial control over the report. The report does not necessarily reflect the views of our sponsor.
• Bright Blue’s Board includes Diane Banks, Philip Clarke, Alexandra Jezeph, Richard Mabey and Ryan Shorthouse.

Our advisory council can be found here. We also have 220 parliamentary supporters. Members of our advisory council and our parliamentary supporters do not necessarily endorse all our policy recommendations, including those included in this press release.

Bright Blue, the independent think tank for liberal conservatism, has today released a new report, Alternative policies for the UK’s asylum system, calling for new asylum policies that seek to reduce the flow of irregular migrants to the UK and put due process at the heart of the asylum system.

The report analyses UK public attitudes towards the principles and policies of the asylum system, and offers new policy ideas for — and a strong case to — this Conservative Government for reforming the asylum system. 

Based on public opinion, Bright Blue recommends that the UK Government adopts four new policies: 

1. The UK Government should commit to an annual quota for the number of refugees under the UNHCR resettlement schemes, subject to official review each year, and numbers proportionate to the fragility of certain countries.
2. The UK Government should introduce a new humanitarian visa that would allow a capped number of asylum seekers to apply for a visa overseas to arrive legally in the UK for the purposes of claiming asylum, subject to official review each year and numbers proportionate to the fragility of certain countries.
3. The Rwanda asylum agreement should be amended rather than abolished, and the UK Government should arrange for the removals of migrants to Rwanda only when they have had their asylum claims heard and refused and are failing to leave the UK voluntarily. 
4. The UK Government should reinstate for a long trial period the two-tier system that existed between April 2022 and June 2023, enabling and promoting differential treatment of refugees who arrived via legal routes and those who arrived irregularly. Only if the evidence after the trial shows that it impacts the decision-making of asylum seekers should it be made permanent.

Ryan Shorthouse, Chief Executive of Bright Blue, commented: 

“Since asylum applications are at record levels, the Government urgently needs to get a grip and implement alternative policies to reduce the number of people making dangerous journeys to arrive in the UK. The main proposal to detain and deport nearly all irregular migrants, especially to Rwanda, is neither realistic nor fair – it’s just not cricket.

“The UK public do want tough action to be taken on irregular migrants, but only once their claim has been heard and rejected – in other words, Brits believe in due process. So the priority for the Home Office must be improving the speed and accuracy of asylum processing, and ensuring the effective tracking and removal of people who are not eligible to be here.”

The Rt Hon Robert Buckland MP, Former Justice Secretary, commented: 

“Due process is the very foundation of the British justice system. As Bright Blue’s considered report identifies, the public want and expect us to protect the rights of the individual and administer justice in a firm but fair way. We, as Conservatives, should be doing nothing less.

“Justice must also be the watchword when it comes to our country’s approach to asylum. I welcome Bright Blue’s recommendation that the Rwanda policy be revisited and revised rather than abolished, and that this must be done in a way that does not undermine the role third countries can play in both deterrence and the processing of claims.

“The report is also right to recognise that there is far more to be done to tackle the cause of the present asylum difficulties. Unscrupulous criminal gangs must be stopped, and their business model dismantled, restoring the all-important quality of justice to our asylum system. This would be reinforced by adopting further Bright Blue policies, such as humanitarian visas, an annual refugee quota and the re-introduction of the two-tier system that wasn’t given enough time to work.”

David Simmonds CBE MP, Chair of the APPG for Migration, commented: 

“We are rightly proud of the rule of law as one of the foundations of our democracy. Our approach to asylum needs to focus on putting our own policies and laws correctly into practice, rather than seeking to disadvantage the most vulnerable by depriving them of legal rights that our own citizens rely on when in difficulty abroad.”

Bright Blue’s key findings on UK public attitudes towards the asylum system:

Perceptions of asylum seekers 

• 50% of the UK public and 50% of 2019 Conservative voters are most likely to believe there is a ‘hostile’ reception towards irregular asylum seekers who arrive in the UK rather than a ‘hospitable’ reception. This is in terms of where asylum seekers stay when they are in the UK, the benefits they can receive and the rights available to them.

• A plurality of the UK public (48%) say that one of the main reasons why irregular asylum seekers arrive in the UK is because they are ‘driven by the welfare benefits available here’.

• A majority of the UK public favours deporting irregular migrants, but favours due process when determining deportations, preferring that government remove nearly all irregular migrants who enter the UK, but only after their asylum claim has been rejected (41%) rather than automatically (34%), as is the current government policy under the Illegal Migration Act 2023. 

• A majority of the UK public favours detaining irregular migrants, but would rather failed asylum seekers are detained (31%) than those waiting for a decision on their claim (23%).

Perceptions of the Rwanda asylum agreement: 

• The UK public marginally favours due process when determining deportations to Rwanda under the new Rwanda asylum plan, preferring that irregular asylum seekers be sent only if they are not genuine refugees (26%) rather than automatically (24%) as is current government policy under the Illegal Migration Act 2023.

• Of those among the UK public who are are opposed deporting asylum seekers to Rwanda, 50% cite ‘Human rights concerns’ as the reason for their opposition.

• Of those among the UK public who support deporting asylum seekers to Rwanda, a plurality (36%) cite ‘To deter irregular crossings across the English Channel’ as the reason. 

Perceptions of potential policies: 

• A majority of the public think that ‘the UK should allow some asylum seekers to apply for a visa overseas to arrive legally in the UK for the purposes of claiming asylum’ (57%).

• A plurality of the UK public support some form of expansion of resettlement schemes (48%). The most popular option being that schemes be expanded from specific fragile countries but the number of places capped (19%).

• The UK public favours due process on maritime push-back policies, preferring that UK authorities block irregular migrants arriving by small boats from going ashore, but only if the return of the boats is safe and in line with international law (44%), rather than even if it violates international law (26%).

ENDS