Campaigners fighting plans for a large wind farm on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales say the developer has attempted to “limit scrutiny” after government inspectors said they disagreed with the company on several key issues.
The Planning Inspectorate has rejected Fred. Olsen Renewables requests not to include some assessments of the impact of the wind farm, planned for moorland between Teesdale and Arkengdrathdale, in a future planning application.
In response to the Norwegian company’s scoping report, which proposes what environmental impact information will be included in the application, the Planning Inspectorate says it “disagrees” with the developer on several issues and also highlights a number of “inconsistencies” in the study.
Rather than allowing some issues to be “scoped out” of the environmental statement, the Inspectorate repeatedly concludes that further assessment is required.
The Inspectorate rejects the developer’s proposal to exclude assessments of some landscapes beyond 20km, arguing that there is insufficient evidence to show they would not experience significant effects.
It requires further assessment of impacts on a range of nationally important landscapes and heritage parks, including the North York Moors National Park, Nidderdale National Landscape and Studley Royal.
It also questions the proposed 10km limit for cumulative landscape effects.
Suzy Wilson, a spokesperson for Hope Moor Wind Farm Action Group, claimed the Inspectorate’s judgement was a “cynical attempt by Fred Olsen to limit scrutiny of the environmental impact of the development”.
She added: “The Planning Inspectorate has criticised the developer throughout this document and has required a clearer and more comprehensive assessment of numerous issues – from wildlife to heritage to flood risk to peatland.
“It is quite extraordinary that Fred Olsen Renewables don’t seem to care at all about permanent loss of deep peat, particularly given all the money spent by Yorkshire Peat Partnership and others on restoring this peatland. What was the point?
“This marks the beginning of the next stage of the process — not the end — and we remain committed to ensuring that every environmental impact is properly assessed before any decisions are made.”
The Inspectorate says that setting is influenced by more than just views and says factors such as noise also need to be considered. It also insists decommissioning impacts should be assessed.
In relation to ecology, the Inspectorate rejects proposals to scope out assessments for several protected sites and species.
It also tells the applicant to provide information on how energy from the wind farm would connect to the national grid.
A spokesperson for Fred. Olsen said they welcomed the feedback received through the scoping process and the planning inspectorate’s scoping opinion, which they said “provides a clear framework for the next stage of assessment”.
They added: “We will continue to work closely with the North Pennines National Landscape Partnership to ensure environmental effects including landscape, peat, ecology and cultural heritage, are assessed thoroughly and robustly.
“We also welcome the planning inspectorate’s view that grid connection options based on the information available, should be assessed proportionately while national reforms to the connections process continue.
“Our focus is on developing and delivering a project that can help contribute to the long-term sustainability of the local landscape, meet the pressing demand to decarbonise our energy system and combat the increasingly visible effects of the climate crisis.”
