Comment

Historic England Advice Note 15: a positive approach to balancing renewable energy delivery with historic environment protection

The new edition of Historic England Advice Note 15[1] was published on 30 June 2026. It is welcomed as a timely update given the Government’s targets to make the UK a clean energy superpower with a zero-carbon electricity system by 2030, and the renewed focus for the deployment of onshore wind in England as set out in the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan[2] and the Onshore Wind Taskforce Strategy (DESNZ, 2025)[3]. With considerable updates in this edition, below we explain the key changes to the guidance.

The updated advice note, like its predecessor, considers a wide range of renewable energy development types, including onshore and offshore wind, solar, biomass and energy from waste, with some consideration for transmission infrastructure and other technologies (such as substations and Battery Energy Storage Systems) where they are part of a hybrid generation scheme. It refers to the different consenting regimes which can apply (i.e. Development Consent Orders under Planning Act 2008 for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, and planning applications for commercial renewable energy development considered under the Town & Country Planning Act 1990 that require Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)).

There have been considerable updates in the guidance, taking into account advances in renewables technologies and the drive to increase renewable energy development. 

What are the major changes?

The value of early engagement

There is a consistent, strong emphasis on the value of early engagement with statutory consultees, local planning authorities and other interested parties, and embedding understanding of the historic environment as a key part of the site selection process. 

Similar to the Scottish Renewables guidance on Streamlining EIA for Onshore Windfarms published in 2025, the document encourages front-loading of research, appraisal, and development of understanding of the significance of the historic environment. The benefits of early engagement for both developers and for the historic environment are recognised, enabling designs which avoid impacts rather than requiring mitigation, reducing costs and protecting heritage assets.

Technological advances in onshore wind

The guidance recognises the considerable technological advances in wind turbine design and other associated infrastructure which have occurred during the period of the ‘de facto ban’ of onshore wind in England between 2015-2024. This includes the increase in blade tip heights to up to 250 m and the longer operational life of developments of at least 30-35 years.

Mindful of these larger turbines the guidance recognises that some level of impact on the significance of heritage assets due to development within their setting is likely. The recommended pragmatic approach to assessment, focussing upon those heritage assets where setting is likely to make an important contribution to significance, is welcome. In combination with early engagement, this updated guidance should enable developers and decision-makers to be confident in taking a proportionate approach to scoping heritage assets for assessment during design development and consent applications. 

Whilst the advice note does provide a cross reference to the Good Practice Advice in Planning Note 3 – The Setting of Heritage Assets it is unfortunate that it omits a key part of the advice contained in Paragraph 23 of the GPA which states that although a proposed development may affect the setting of numerous heritage assets, it may not impact upon them all equally, with some heritage assets being more sensitive to change affecting their setting, than others.

Best practice for solar

Many in the industry will be pleased to see Historic England’s support for the Archaeology and Solar Farms Good Practice Guide (CIfA 2026) and recognition that it can be acceptable for the majority of targeted trial trenching to be carried out post-consent, subject to the decision maker being able to have confidence in the quality of post-consent outcomes. The document clearly states that Historic England consider the advice within the CiFA Good Practice Guide to provide proportionate and cost-effective approaches. The suggested submission of archaeological mitigation strategy (AMS) or Outline Written Scheme of Investigation (OWSI) documents should provide helpful clarity of future archaeological works required, a benefit for both developer and protection and understanding of archaeological remains. The clear signposting of other associated guidance in relation to archaeology in this part of the note is also welcomed to support an integrated approach to archaeological management.

New topics

A number of new topics are included in the guidance, these include: 

• Public benefit – the potential for heritage benefits, as a public benefit for the purposes of the NPPF, is noted within the document, providing clarification that those can, and should, be taken into account in the planning balance. The potential for public benefits through archaeological investigation, social prescribing or recovery of nature and landscape are all identified, with a strategy informed by engagement with local communities advised to allow for the most impactful results. 
• Repowering – it is noted that repowering can involve the introduction of different elements, due to technological improvements, such as taller wind turbines. The guidance identifies the importance of reviewing and updating previous heritage analysis so that any additional negative effects upon the historic environment arising from repowering can be avoided. 
• Peat environments – recognising the common intersection of renewable energy developments with areas of peatland, the guidance provides a succinct summary of the importance of peat deposits as a means of understanding the past environment and human interactions with it. 
• Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) – an integrated approach to the natural and historic environments is promoted, recognising that this allows the delivery of biodiversity gains without harm to the historic environment (or ideally providing enhancement to both). 

The new edition of the advice note provides a much-needed update and clarification of Historic England’s guidance in relation to commercial renewable energy developments. Updates to the guidance have been prepared in response to the rapidly changing nature of renewables technology and the increased impetus for renewable energy development in England. The acknowledgement that many renewable energy developments will have some impact upon the historic environment, and that this must be balanced with other effects and benefits of a development, is particularly important within a country with a dense distribution of heritage assets which also has ambitious aims for a zero-carbon electricity system by 2030.

How can Turley support your renewable energy generation project?

Our team of experienced heritage advisors provide specialist advice for renewable energy generation, storage and industrial decarbonisation projects. We help clients to deliver successful schemes which respond appropriately to heritage constraints, reduce risk, win support, and secure consent. We also advise on strategies which can help offset impacts on the significance of heritage assets. We have recently acted as built heritage advisors for Scout Moor II Wind Farm, one of the first onshore wind farms to be promoted since removal of the de-facto ban in England. For more information on our heritage work please contact Hannah Tweedie.

We have been advising our clients on renewable energy generation, storage and industrial decarbonisation projects for over 40 years. Find out more about our Net Zero Infrastructure offer here. 

10 July 2026

[1] Delivering Clean Power: Commercial Renewable Energy Development and the Historic Environment

[2] Clean Power 2030 Action Plan - GOV.UK

[3] DESNZ Onshore Wind Taskforce Strategy - July 2025