Calderdale wind farm application delayed by eight months

Controversial plans for a West Yorkshire wind farm that could become England’s largest have been delayed by around eight months.

This week, Calderdale Wind Farm Limited (CWFL) said its Development Consent Order application for Calderdale Energy Park on Walshaw Moor, previously expected in November 2026, will now be submitted in July 2027.

Reacting to the news on Facebook, Calderdale Windfarm Action Group said: "CWFL have now admitted their peat landslide hazard and risk assessment was wrong."

The developer says the revised timetable followed a review of responses to its statutory consultation which identified “a number of matters requiring further consideration”.

Christian Egal, project director, said: “We’re grateful to everyone who took the time to take part in the statutory consultation. The feedback we received has been invaluable, and it’s clear that some areas need more work before we’re in a position to submit.

“Taking this extra time is the right thing to do. It means we can complete the further assessments needed, refine the design and submit the most robust application possible.”

The company said it intends to share an updated project design with stakeholders in early 2027 before lodging the application.

Stop Calderdale Windfarm have produced this plan of Walshaw Moor Estate showing location of the 65 turbines proposed by Calderdale Wind Farm Ltd

The delay comes amid continuing opposition to plans for 34 giant wind turbines on moorland between Hebden Bridge and Haworth – Brontë Country.

The company says the turbines will generate enough low carbon electricity to power 198,000 homes a year while offsetting an estimated 294,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.

But Campaign group Stronger Together to Stop Calderdale Wind Farm recently claimed a Freedom of Information request had revealed what it described as a “damning” response from Natural England, the Government’s adviser on the natural environment.

The group said Natural England’s response to the Section 42 consultation raised concerns about potential impacts on protected habitats, bird populations, peatland, landscape and ecosystem functioning.

Campaigners also claimed the organisation had questioned whether environmental damage caused by the scheme could be adequately compensated for and had identified concerns around site selection and alternatives.

“Its reasoning is stark. Blanket bog cannot simply be recreated. It takes thousands of years to form and depends on particular climatic and hydrological conditions,” said the campaigners.

The campaign group previously labelled the development: “A hostile act against the countryside, wildlife and people of Calderdale and Brontë Country.”

The application will ultimately be decided by the Energy Secretary – currently Miatta Fahnbulleh (Labour).

Leaders from three Reform-controlled councils have previously joined forces to oppose the development – those are, Cllr Dan Sutherland (Calderdale), Cllr Stephen Atkinson (Lancashire), and Cllr Stephen Place (Bradford).

Parliamentarians, including Robbie Moore, Conservative MP for Keighley and Ilkley, and Josh Fenton-Glynn, Labour MP for Calder Valley, have also shared concerns.