New polling has suggested that the British public places greater importance on lower bills, energy security and jobs than the visual impact of new energy projects.
The polling, which was commissioned by a group of energy trade associations and carried out by Early Studies between March 23 and April 20, 2026, should fuel the UK Government’s quest to build more energy infrastructure, despite continued opposition from certain factions.
It found that just 10.84% selected managing visual impact as a main consideration for the UK’s future energy needs in 2026. That made it the lowest-ranked of seven options, behind supporting UK industry to remain competitive globally, reducing air pollution, creating new jobs and protecting existing jobs.
By comparison, 39.36% chose supporting UK industry to remain competitive globally, while 37.15% chose reducing air pollution for future generations. A further 31.43% selected the creation of new jobs and adding economic value.
The findings are likely to be welcomed by developers and policymakers attempting to accelerate the buildout of clean energy infrastructure, particularly as planning objections remain one of the most significant barriers to new projects.
The visual impact of new energy infrastructure is often one of the most heavily discussed topics. It features in mainstream media coverage of new projects, and often can persuade councillors to vote against planning applications. But, according to the polling, the majority of Brits would rather the infrastructure get built in the first place.
That does not mean visual impact is irrelevant, of course. New grid infrastructure, wind farms, solar farms, energy storage projects and other major developments can still have a significant local impact, particularly in areas facing multiple projects at once. But the polling does challenge the idea that visual impact is the public’s overriding concern.
Instead, the findings suggest that people are more focused on the practical outcomes of energy infrastructure, including lower bills, stronger energy security, job creation and industrial competitiveness.
Bills remain the dominant concern
Unsurprisingly, energy bills continue to sit at the top of the public’s list of priorities. When asked what matters most for the UK’s energy future, 72.29% selected ensuring energy bills are as low as possible in 2026.
That is a sharp increase from the 59.94% recorded for 2020, reflecting the impact of the energy crisis and the continued pressure on household finances.
Energy security has also risen significantly in importance. The proportion selecting ensuring energy security and reducing reliance on imports increased from 17.87% in 2020 to 41.06% in 2026. Fighting climate change and reducing emissions was selected by 39.26% in 2026.
The results suggest that the debate around clean energy infrastructure has shifted in recent years. While decarbonisation remains important, the case for new infrastructure is now increasingly tied to energy security, economic resilience and reducing exposure to volatile international markets.
That is likely to matter as the UK pushes ahead with new transmission infrastructure, renewable energy projects, carbon capture and storage, hydrogen, nuclear and heat networks.
Dhara Vyas, Chief Executive Officer of Energy UK, noted, “Modernisation and expansion of our infrastructure is essential to meet the needs of the current and future energy system and to ensure we can maximise the potential of our clean energy resources. The impact of new developments can understandably be a concern for those nearby – so mitigating these and ensuring local communities benefit remains important – but it’s positive to see that the public appreciate the wider picture and understand that benefits like energy security, greater competitiveness, jobs and lower bills depend on building new infrastructure.”
A boost for planning reform?
The polling comes at a time when the Government is trying to speed up delivery of major infrastructure projects, with planning reform increasingly seen as central to meeting the UK’s clean power and net zero ambitions.
Energy developers have long warned that planning delays, grid constraints and lengthy legal challenges risk slowing the transition to a cleaner, more secure electricity system. We’ve covered a litany of these issues here on Electrical Review, particularly around clean energy projects struggling to secure consent or grid connections.
Tara Singh, CEO of RenewableUK, commented, “Whilst we have a duty to ensure that only the most suitable projects get built in the right places, these results are a clear indication that the public understands how crucial homegrown clean energy is to our security and recognises the urgent need to bolster our ability to withstand price shocks by accelerating the rollout of energy infrastructure. The Government’s latest plans to limit the number of Judicial Reviews that can be logged against wind farms and grid expansion are a welcome first step, and we are calling on them to ensure billpayers across the country feel the benefits as soon as possible by further streamlining the planning system and minimising unnecessary delays.”
Trevor Hutchings, CEO of the REA, added, “This survey reinforces what we already know: there is strong support for renewable energy and while we must not ignore concerns about energy infrastructure on communities, visual impact, which is often cited as reasons to reject a development, is in fact the lowest-ranked issue for the public. What the public does care about is greater security, growth and jobs, and to get a grip on their energy bills. This is what home-grown clean energy will do.
“For the second time in four years, we have a fossil fuel energy crisis driving up bills and slowing the economy, and so the case for home grown clean energy has never been clearer.”
While the findings will not remove the need for proper local engagement, they do suggest that national support for new infrastructure may be stronger than some planning debates imply.
The challenge now is ensuring that support translates into projects being delivered at pace, while still making sure communities affected by new infrastructure are properly consulted and able to share in the benefits.
