Natural England has revealed that it would consider building onshore wind farms in national parks as part of the government's commitment to developing renewable energy sources across the UK.

The Department for Energy and Climate Change's energy white paper, published on 15 July, outlined a number of measures to help meet climate change targets, including an increase in the amount of electricity generated through low carbon sources. In response, Natural England said that it would consider plans to establish wind turbines within national parks and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) provided such plans do not have an adverse impact on landscapes.

Helen Phillips, Natural England chief executive, said: "There is a huge amount at stake and the White Paper has got to transform the ways in which we prioritise renewable energy and energy conservation in this country. "As a society, we have to move from knee-jerk nimbyism to an informed consensus that there are landscapes where sustainable renewable energy infrastructure is desirable and should be encouraged, just as there are landscapes that should remain sacrosanct and free from development."