Infrastructure Planning (Onshore Wind and Solar Generation) Order 2025
307Ayes
100Noes
Carried · majority 207 · Government won237 did not vote
644 Members · Aye 307 · No 100 · DNV 237 · grey dots in centre are abstentions
Analysis
Commons
Commons
MPs voted on 2 April 2025 to approve the Infrastructure Planning (Onshore Wind and Solar Generation) Order 2025, a statutory instrument that changes planning rules for large onshore wind and solar farms in England. The vote passed by 307 ayes to 100 noes, with the government's position prevailing. The order brings large-scale onshore wind and solar projects into the nationally significant infrastructure (NSI) planning regime, the streamlined approval process previously used mainly for major infrastructure such as roads and power stations. In practical terms, this means qualifying projects will be decided by the Planning Inspectorate and ultimately a Secretary of State, rather than through local authority planning committees. The change is intended to speed up approval for renewable energy developments that the government considers essential to its clean energy and net zero targets. The vote divided almost entirely along party lines. All 299 Labour and Labour and Co-operative MPs who voted backed the order, as did the three Green MPs. All 93 voting Conservatives opposed it, joined by the three Reform UK MPs, the three Democratic Unionist Party members, the one Ulster Unionist Party member, and one independent. No Conservative MP voted in favour and no Labour MP voted against. The order sits within a broader legislative drive by the current government to accelerate renewable energy deployment, a programme that has also included the Great British Energy Bill and related energy regulations debated in the same parliamentary period.
Voting Aye meant
Support streamlining planning approval for large onshore wind and solar projects to accelerate renewable energy deployment
Voting No meant
Oppose changes to planning rules that reduce local oversight of onshore wind and solar developments
Each row is one party. The stacked bar gives the within-party split of Aye / No / Absent; the columns on the right give the raw counts. The whip column shows the published party position — “Free vote” means the whip was formally removed for this division.
Party
Whip
Aye / No / Abs
Aye
No
Abs
Labour Party
Whipped Aye
270
0
91
Conservative and Unionist Party
Whipped No
0
93
23
Liberal Democrats
—
0
0
71
Labour and Co-operative Party
Whipped Aye
29
0
13
Independent
—
6
1
6
Scottish National Party
—
0
0
9
Reform UK
Whipped No
0
3
4
Sinn Féin
—
0
0
7
Democratic Unionist Party
Whipped No
0
3
2
Green Party of England and Wales
Whipped Aye
3
0
1
Plaid Cymru
—
0
0
4
Social Democratic and Labour Party
—
0
0
2
Your Party
—
1
0
1
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
—
0
0
1
Restore Britain
—
0
1
0
Speaker
—
0
0
1
Traditional Unionist Voice
—
0
0
1
Ulster Unionist Party
—
0
1
0
Source · Hansard · UK Parliament Votes API · whip status from announced positions; “free vote” indicates the whip was formally removed
The instrument is essential for clean power 2030, reversing the Conservative ban on onshore wind and rationalising solar thresholds to reflect modern technology while balancing national energy needs with local protections.Labour · Voted aye · Read full speech (2,830 words) →
The order bypasses local community consent, imposes huge infrastructure on rural areas against residents' wishes, and prioritises ideology over cost-benefit analysis and protection of countryside and agricultural land.Conservative · Voted no · Read full speech (1,695 words) →
Supports lifting the onshore wind ban and raising solar thresholds to prevent artificial caps, but warns the Government's NSIP approach strips local voice and nature protection; calls for land use framework and community benefit schemes like Scotland's.Liberal Democrat · Voted no_vote_recorded · Read full speech (1,022 words) →
The 100 MW solar threshold is artificially low and will enable massive solar farms on best-quality agricultural land; proposes instead mandatory solar on new homes and industrial roofs to spare countryside.Conservative · Voted teller_no · Read full speech (1,226 words) →
Protected landscapes and national parks face destruction from massive turbines; suggests alternative approaches like solar on motorway embankments and warehouse roofs instead of virgin countryside.Conservative · Voted no · Read full speech (483 words) →
The streamlined planning process delivers jobs and investment in communities; GE Vernova's expansion approval exemplifies the benefits for local economies and energy security.Labour · Voted aye · Read full speech (135 words) →
Unblocking renewable infrastructure is vital for energy independence; Scottish experience shows community benefits and investment in local roads and services make projects acceptable to local people.Labour · Voted aye · Read full speech (555 words) →
The Government must streamline planning for renewable infrastructure to break reliance on fossil fuels and reduce bills; should mandate solar and insulation on all new homes and require energy storage capacity.Labour · Voted aye · Read full speech (803 words) →
Sources
Division dataUK Parliament Votes API
DebateHansard · Commons
Stance analysisAI analysis · Claude 4.x
LicenceOpen Parliament Licence v3.0