Local Area Energy Plans

From Feckenham to Inkberrow, residents across Redditch and the Villages are increasingly frustrated by energy proposals that arrive with little warning and even less local input. This is not good enough.

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The problem is structural. Housing development operates under Local Plans, giving councils and communities a clear framework. Energy planning has no such system. Without it, local authorities, parish councils and volunteers are left reacting to speculative proposals without the data or authority to shape them.

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I have co-sponsored a Bill to provide a common-sense solution. Local Area Energy Plans (LAEPs) will require councils to produce strategic energy frameworks. Network operators will be legally obliged to share data, ending the current uncertainty. These plans will carry binding weight in all future planning decisions.

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This is not about obstructing renewable energy. With £40 billion invested annually in new infrastructure by 2030, LAEPs will ensure this investment works for Feckenham, Inkberrow and all our villages; delivering local jobs, fair distribution and genuine community consent through proper partnership.

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The current system leaves villages sidelined. LAEPs will put them at the heart of decision-making. I will present the Bill to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, urging its adoption.

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Add your voice. Together, we can secure a fairer, more democratic energy future for Redditch and the Villages.