Greater action needed to guarantee business investments to meet government goals

Responding to the announcements in the 2024 Spring Budget, Rachel Solomon Williams, Executive Director at the Aldersgate Group, said: “Businesses stand behind the net zero transition and need the right policy signals, a supportive regulatory framework and long-term certainty to make the necessary investments in the UK. We welcome clarity on the funding envelope for the next Contracts for Difference allocation round. The Government must set out the details for the achievement of the 50GW offshore wind target by 2030 and grid decarbonisation commitment, to help leverage vital investment into the deployment of renewable energy and local areas.

As we await further details on plans to reform the grid connection process, we look forward to engaging with the new taskforce announced today to explore alternative dispute resolution mechanisms in planning. Planning can play a significant role in delivering much-needed homes, the energy infrastructure of the future and the restoration of our natural environment. However, to realise the Budget’s stated vision of long-term growth, it is essential that Government put forward a long-term industrial strategy, helping to drive investment across the whole of the UK and ensuring the current and future skilled workforce needed to deliver a net zero economy.”