North Yorkshire Council has been urged to take a more proactive role in representing local communities over proposals for the Hope Moor Wind Farm.
Campaign group Hope Moor Wind Farm Action Group said residents felt the authority was not properly engaging with them over plans for 23 wind turbines on moorland between Arkengarthdale and Teesdale.
But a meeting heard this week that there was significant work going on behind the scenes by council staff on the controversial proposal.
In a statement read out at the council’s Richmond area committee this week, Suzy Wilson, chair of the action group, described the proposed development as “one of the most significant developments ever proposed in our area”.
She said the scheme had the potential to affect “our landscape, environment, tourism, economy, local infrastructure and the daily lives of residents across Richmondshire for generations to come”.
Mrs Wilson told councillors that local people wanted to know what the council was doing to ensure that local voices were properly heard and represented throughout the planning process
“I am told that many in the local North Yorkshire communities feel they are not being engaged with North Yorkshire Council and local councillors,” she said.
She said that the consultation should extend beyond the immediate area to include communities such as Richmond and Leyburn and said that, while the final decision on the nationally significant infrastructure project would rest with the Secretary of State, local councils could still influence the outcome.
“It does not have to be developer-led,” she said.
“This should not prevent North Yorkshire Council from actively engaging with local communities, gathering evidence and developing an informed position on behalf of its residents.”
Mrs Wilson pointed to work undertaken by neighbouring Durham County Council, which had brought together parish councils and elected members to explain the process and discuss the implications of the proposal.
She called on North Yorkshire Council to organise a similar meeting involving parish councils, parish meetings and other interested organisations to improve understanding of the planning process and help communities engage effectively.
“This is about the future of the place we live, the character of our communities and the wellbeing of the people who call this area home,” she said.
Fiona Hunter, North Yorkshire Council’s development management team manager for the Richmond area, told the meeting that the authority was already undertaking significant work behind the scenes.
The officer said the authority had submitted the council’s response to the developer’s scoping report after a four-week consultation period and had been working closely with organisations including the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority and Durham County Council.
She told members that officers would be carrying out a site visit to assess sensitive viewpoints and that senior managers and council leaders were also due to discuss how the authority would approach the proposal more broadly.
The officer said the application for development consent was expected to be submitted in mid-2027, giving the council time to identify key concerns, viewpoints and possible mitigation measures before the formal planning process begins.
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