Calderdale Wind Farm

The consultation followed an announcement by the Chancellor on 08 July 2024, to disapply footnotes 57 and 58 to paragraph 163 of the existing NPPF, which, in the Government’s view “created a very high bar for consent to be granted” and included a commitment by Government to bringing onshore wind back into the NSIP regime.

The reforms, proposed by Government, would set the threshold at which onshore wind projects are defined as NSIPs. The consultation sought views on the appropriate level of threshold and suggested a threshold of 100MW. If adopted this would mean that projects over the threshold will need to seek planning approval via a Development Consent Order (DCO).

Following the scoping process for Calderdale Wind Farm in late 2023 and early 2024, environmental & technical surveys and studies have been progressed to help inform the shape of a future design for the Project. This work has shown that the site can deliver renewable energy with an installed capacity exceeding 100MW.

If the anticipated planning reforms proceed, the project will therefore require formal approval through the Development Consent Order (DCO) process, which will be overseen by the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero. The NSIP designation sets clear expectations for community consultation, and Calderdale Wind Farm Ltd. is committed to meeting these requirements as the DCO application is prepared.

Whilst we are not engaging with local communities at this time, the project team is progressing the preliminary proposals and will provide further information in advance of non-statutory consultation with the local community in Spring 2025. Feedback received during the non-statutory consultation period will be used to inform the preparation of the DCO application ahead of a further round of statutory consultation next year.

Calderdale Wind Farm Ltd remains fully committed to delivering a project of national importance at Walshaw Moor. We remain firmly of the belief that the Project presents a real opportunity for Calderdale and the wider area to play a substantial role in the UK’s Net Zero transition.