Ministers are preparing to veto major new wind farms in the British countryside and cut back their subsidies, according to senior Whitehall sources.
The decision to pull back from onshore wind farms comes after more than 100 backbench Conservative MPs mounted a rebellion against turbines blighting rural areas.
Greg Barker, the Climate Change Minister, hinted at a change in policy this weekend when he said that the “the wind we need” in Britain is already being built, developed or in planning.
“It’s about being balanced and sensible,” he said. “We inherited a policy from the last government which was unbalanced in favour of onshore wind.
“There have been some installations in insensitive or unsuitable locations – too close to houses, or in an area of outstanding natural beauty.”
Britain already has around 350 wind farms across the country, with around 500 more under construction or awaiting planning permission
