Labour lifts ban on onshore windfarms

Key points

• The ‘ban’ on new onshore windfarms has been dropped by the Labour government.
• With the proposed increased number of ‘windfarms’ and the increased income arising from wind turbines questions have to be asked as to the income tax inheritance tax and capital gains tax position relating to them.
• The case of Dance has possibly helped with the business property relief claim for non-business assets.
• HMRC will often accept that actively managed commercial woodlands will qualify for business relief as going beyond being mere investments.

The chancellor Rachel Reeves has stated that she will revise planning policy and move towards decisions being taken nationally not locally. The ‘ban’ on new onshore windfarms has been dropped by the Labour government to the delight of environmentalists and energy experts. The ban was apparently caused by two footnotes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) the rules...