Yorkshire Wildlife Trust is submitting its 27 page response to the consultation on the developer’s Preliminary Environmental Information Report, Calderdale Energy Park which closes tomorrow 10th June, 2026. Peatland and planning specialists at the Trust have scrutinised the proposals and assessed the impact they could have.
Calderdale Energy Park is proposing to build 34 wind turbines on Walshaw Moor, above Hebden Bridge in Calderdale, with permissions sought via the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Process.
This would be the largest windfarm in England in an area that is designated and highly protected as a Special Protection Area, Special Area of Conservation, Site of Special Scientific Interest, and on deep peat. Walshaw Moor is important for its moorland habitats, including irreplaceable blanket bog, and critically-endangered bird species such as merlin and golden plover.
The site has areas of significantly deep peat, home to many endangered and protected species, storing thousands of years of carbon. Peatlands also offer important flood defences by slowing water flow from the uplands, protecting communities downstream.
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Chief Executive, Rachael Bice, said:
“Renewables have a vital place in responding to the climate and biodiversity crises but must be carefully sited and designed, this nationally significant proposal does neither of these things. It also sets a dangerous and worrying precent for our most protected landscapes and communities living near them.
“Our engagement in the process so far is revealing a poorly thought through and technically inadequate proposal at both a local and national level. The developers have neither been robust nor transparent in their site selection and have provided insufficient evidence to suggest that they have properly considered any mitigation.”
In addition to the turbines, there would be potential impacts from the supporting infrastructure. This includes the construction of access tracks substantial enough to transport turbine components to and across the moor, as well as the installation of cabling required to connect the turbines to the national grid. These impacts would be compounded by the effects associated with the construction process as a whole.
Rachael added:
“We support the government’s target to reach net zero but not at the cost of avoidable, severe and long‑term harm to nature and habitat. Individual renewable energy projects should be located, designed and managed to minimise impacts on nature, protect important habitats and species and benefit people. It’s possible for development to be approached differently and actively contribute to nature’s recovery across Yorkshire.”
Last year the Trust published ‘Bringing Yorkshire’s Nature Back’, a blueprint for achieving the international and UK government committed target of 30% of land protected for nature. This includes improving and restoring protected landscapes.
