Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 22 February 2021 to Question 153108, whether the Planning Inspector inquiring into the proposals has requested Natural England to provide new data or evidence or whether the letter requesting such data sent by Natural England to local residents is without the authority of the Inspector.

The letter requesting new data or evidence sent by Natural England was sent in relation to the European Court ruling known as People Over Wind. To comply with this ruling Natural England has completed a full review of the relevant Habitats Regulations Assessment which will be published online in due course. This review includes the important step of approaching relevant stakeholders (and objectors who have listed nature conservation concerns in their responses) to ask if they have any new data regarding the designated features relevant to the review. This approach was agreed with the department.

This assessment is part of a separate process to the Planning Inspectorate investigation into objections. The Planning Inspector paused their investigation while the review was ongoing so that they could take the results into account in their decision.