12 May 2026 4 min read Oak Tree Rule
The proposed Oak Tree Rule would extend Permitted Development rights to a single small onshore wind turbine on eligible commercial sites in England — broadly in the height range of a mature oak tree.
For owners and occupiers facing volatile energy prices, it is potentially one of the most significant on-site generation reforms of the decade.
What you can do now
Sites that pre-screen for eligibility, wind resource and grid position today will be in a position to submit a Prior Approval pack on day one if the legislation lands. Most of that pre-work is reusable even if the policy stalls.