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Energy and climate change secretary Ed Davey has insisted there is no change in government policy on wind farms, despite one of his junior ministers saying he was building a case against onshore wind farms.

Davey, a Liberal Democrat, put out a statement saying onshore wind farms had 鈥渁n important role to play in our energy future鈥� after reports in the Daily Mail and Daily Telegraph this morning suggested the government was planning to withdraw its support for onshore wind turbine construction.

Conservative energy minister John Hayes told the Mail wind farms had 鈥減eppered鈥� the UK countryside and 鈥渆nough is enough鈥�.

He said he鈥檇 commissioned research on the impact of wind turbines on the landscape, house prices and noise levels.

Davey confirmed the department was 鈥渃onsulting on ways of making sure local communities feel the benefit of hosting wind farms鈥� but rejected the suggestion this marked a change in policy.

Davey also rejected Hayes鈥� assertion that there is a review looking at the impact of wind farms on property values.

Davey said: 鈥淭here has been no change to government policy on renewable energy, as collectively agreed by the coalition cabinet.

鈥淥nshore wind is one of the cheapest renewables, which is why we鈥檝e been able to cut the subsidy.鈥�