A proposed wind farm featuring 200m high turbines on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales is facing opposition from communities in County Durham who are “determined to stop it”.
Around 200 people attended a public meeting in Barnard Castle this week to discuss plans for the Hope Moor Wind Farm, which could be built on moorland near the Stang Forest, between Arkengarthdale and Teesdale.
Developer Fred. Olsen Renewables (FORL) is seeking permission to construct of 23 wind turbines, each standing up to 200 metres high to blade tip.
The development would have a generating capacity of more than 150MW, FORL says.
The meeting was chaired by Barnard Castle county councillor Chris Foote-Wood.
The councillor said: “Teesdale’s unspoiled scenery is under threat from this huge wind farm whose giant turbines will tower over the landscape.
“If the Hope Moor project goes ahead, 23 enormous wind turbines, each over 600 feet tall, right next to the Stang forest, will be all too visible from Barnard Castle and large parts of Teesdale.”
He added: “The people of Teesdale are slow to anger but when they get their teeth into something, they don’t let go, and they are determined to stop this.
“I’ve been a councillor 45 years on and off and this is the most damaging proposal I’ve ever seen.”
Cllr Foote-Wood has started the Save Our Scenery to represent the views of Teesdale residents.
The scheme has already attracted opposition from residents in North Yorkshire with a campaign group, The Hope Moor Wind Farm Action Group, formed to fight the plans.
Tim Wilson, from the group, said the meeting was well attended with major concerns raised about the scheme.
He added: “People are completely shocked about just the sheer scale of it, the fact that it’s been kept under cover and the fact that it’s been deliberately called Hope Moor to detract away from the fact that he’s on the Barningham and Holgate, and Arkengarthdale, estates.
“We’ve had a lot of people asking what they can do and we’ve had a lot of offers of people willing to help either with social media, legal support, funding etc.”
North Yorkshire councillor for the Upper Dales, Yvonne Peacock, also spoke out about the scheme this week.
She said: “It’s ridiculous that there are plans to install these huge turbines in the Yorkshire Dales.
“They are going to be a blight on the countryside with the whole of the northern Dales affected.”
In response, Euan Hutchison, UK development director for Fred Olsen Renewables, said community engagement was central to how the company developed projects.
He added: “We are in the process of sharing our early plans as part of a first stage of public consultation, giving people the opportunity to see the proposals, ask questions, and help shape how Hope Moor can deliver for the community.
“If members of the local community have questions or concerns about our proposals, we suggest that they attend one of the upcoming events and speak to the project team to gain clarity and understanding, and have the opportunity for their feedback to be considered.”
The developer’s first consultation exercise is currently underway ahead of a development consent order application potentially filed with the Planning Inspectorate in 2027.
The remaining consultation events will be held on Thursday, June 4, from 3pm to 8pm at Newsham Village Hall and on Saturday, June 6, from 10am to 3pm at Reeth Memorial Hall.
An online consultation webinar is also planned for Wednesday, June 10 at 6pm for those unable to attend in person.
Consultation responses can be submitted online, by email or by post until June 30.
Visit www.hopemoor.co.uk for more information.
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We all must continue the pressure against this plan which will completely devastate the landscape in this beautiful area and will be visible from Skipton, Hartlepool and the Lake District. I’m pleased that Richard MP has come out in support of the community and is totally against it. Where does the Bishop Auckland MP stand on to he issue?
It’s a pity the objectors can’t get their teeth into the fact of global heating largely caused by burning fossil fuels, which could be mitigated by more use of renewal energy.
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