Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the proposed Hope Moor wind farm location on the environment and landscape; and what discussions they have had with the developer regarding alternative sites.

This project is at the pre-application stage and an application for development consent is expected to be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate in June 2027. The applicant will provide information about how any interested party can get involved with engagement and consultation activities. This enables interested parties to influence the application before it is sent to the Planning Inspectorate. There will then be a full planning examination in the usual way in which all these issues will be considered.

Given the Secretary of State's quasi-judicial role in taking decisions on applications for development consent for energy infrastructure proposals, it would not be appropriate for the department to comment on specific matters related to the proposals, as this could be seen as prejudicing the decision-making process.