Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, if she will make it her policy to apply community benefit to offshore wind farms.

Offshore windfarm developers already provide a range of community benefit packages which are developed in consultation with local communities. For projects based in Scotland, developers follow the Scottish Government’s Offshore Energy Good Practice Principles when creating a community benefit package.

The Government consulted on proposals for voluntary guidance for community benefits for electricity transmission network infrastructure. The consultation proposed to introduce voluntary guidance on the appropriate levels and forms of benefits to give communities the knowledge, power and flexibility to decide what benefits they want in consultation with the project developer. The consultation stated that this should apply for onshore infrastructure developed by offshore wind.