Ministry of Defence Objects to Four Planned Windfarms

The Ministry of Defence has objected to at least four planned windfarms over the past year, arguing that turbine blades create unacceptable interference with military radar. The most significant dispute involves the Hope Moor project, a development featuring 23 turbines up to 200 meters high across County Durham and North Yorkshire. The ministry warns that Hope Moor could disrupt radar at Brizzlee Wood and RAF Leeming, while also posing risks to aircraft during low-level training.

Other contested sites include projects at Burton Agnes, the Scottish borders, and an offshore array in the Irish Sea that affects Warton Aerodrome. These objections create a policy conflict with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, which seeks to double onshore wind capacity by 2030.

While many military objections are resolved through technical adjustments, the Hope Moor project has faced intense opposition from local Conservative councillors and Lord Botham. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband holds the final decision-making authority for the development.