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MoD has objected to four windfarms over radar fears
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The Ministry of Defence has lodged objections to at least four planned windfarms in the past year on the grounds that spinning blades could cause windfarm radar interference with systems used to detect military aircraft. In late June the MoD told planners that aircraft could be “not being detected” inside an RAF Low Flying Area. The most prominent project named is Hope Moor — a nationally significant scheme that would have 23 turbines up to 200m and whose outcome will be decided by the energy secretary. The row pits the MoD against the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, which is pursuing a policy to double onshore wind capacity by 2030.
We work closely with the Ministry of Defence. All onshore wind projects are subject to a rigorous planning process in which defence and security, the views of the local community and impacts on the environment are considered.
DESNZ spokesperson
Key takeaways
- Scope of objections: The MoD has objected to at least four planned windfarms in the past year on national security grounds.
- Hope Moor details: Hope Moor is designated nationally significant and would include 23 turbines up to 200m in height.
- Other projects named: Other projects flagged include a six-turbine scheme at Burton Agnes, a 13-turbine site near the Scottish borders and an 87-turbine offshore array in the Irish Sea.
- Policy context: DESNZ terminated a near-decade ban on onshore schemes after Labour took power in 2024 and aims to double capacity by 2030.
Table of contents
Why defence officials are raising alarms about radar
Defence objections centre on the way turbine blades scatter radar returns and create moving clutter inside surveillance coverage. The MoD letter cited a risk that aircraft would be “not being detected” inside an RAF Low Flying Area, and officials described the potential for “unacceptable interference” with military radars used to track low‑level flights.
Those systems are calibrated to spot small, fast targets against a quiet background; large rotating structures introduce repeated echoes that can mask or confuse returns. The concern is operational: interruptions in coverage inside training or operating areas could force route changes, constrain exercises or require additional sensor deployments.
Which schemes the MoD has singled out
The letter over Hope Moor is the latest of at least four objections the MoD has registered in the past year. Hope Moor is a nationally significant project proposed for County Durham with 23 turbines up to 200m tall; the energy secretary will determine its final consenting outcome.
The MoD also objected to a six-turbine project at Burton Agnes in East Yorkshire and to a 13-turbine proposal near the Scottish borders, describing the latter’s risk as “unmanageable.” Separately, the ministry has raised concerns about a proposed 87-turbine offshore array in the Irish Sea because of possible interference with radar at Warton Aerodrome in Lancashire.
How the objections affect delivery and permitting
The objections set up a formal tension with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, which ended a near-decade block on onshore wind after Labour’s election in 2024 and wants onshore capacity doubled by 2030. DESNZ has declared that defence, community and environmental impacts are part of the planning checks it oversees.
Industry groups say a negotiated mitigation path is common: developers, the MoD and planners typically reach changes on layout, height or radar fixes so projects can proceed. Campaigners opposed to particular schemes also use MoD letters as leverage in local campaigns, making the objections both a technical and a political hurdle.
| Project | Turbines | Location | MoD concern / status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hope Moor | 23 | County Durham | Letter cites detection risk; nationally significant |
| Burton Agnes | 6 | East Yorkshire Wolds | MoD objection on radar interference |
| Unnamed Scottish-border site | 13 | Near Scottish borders | Described as an “unmanageable” risk by MoD |
| Irish Sea offshore array | 87 | Irish Sea (near Warton Aerodrome) | Potential interference with Warton radar |
Cases for and against progress
The case for
- Established mitigation routes: developers and the MoD commonly negotiate layout, height and technical fixes that allow consent while reducing radar impact.
- Government backing: DESNZ supports onshore expansion and has made consenting a policy priority to double capacity by 2030.
The case against
- Delay and legal risk: formal MoD objections can trigger additional studies, design changes or public inquiries that push timetables beyond consenting windows.
- Political amplification: local opponents are likely to use MoD letters to bolster campaigns against specific schemes, increasing reputational and planning risk for developers.
What to be careful about
- Delays to nationally significant projects if technical mitigation cannot be agreed before the energy secretary’s decision.
- Increased cost and redesign risk for developers required to fund radar studies or install mitigation.
- Local campaigns using MoD interventions to seek project cancellations or prolonged hearings.
The bottom line
The defence objections turn a technical radar issue into a policy bottleneck for onshore and some offshore wind projects. The MoD’s letters have real procedural weight and can force studies, design changes or public hearings; at the same time, DESNZ’s 2030 expansion target and the established practice of negotiated mitigation mean many schemes can still find a path forward. For developers the immediate task is practical: fund the radar work and engage the MoD early. For ministers the challenge is balancing national security risk with the government’s stated aim to double onshore capacity by 2030.
What to watch
- Watch for the energy secretary’s decision on Hope Moor; no date has been set.
- Watch for developer–MoD negotiations over radar mitigations for the Irish Sea array and other flagged schemes; no date has been set.
- Watch for DESNZ statements on onshore consenting and delivery measures tied to its 2030 capacity goal; no date has been set.
Frequently asked questions
Why has the MoD objected to these windfarm plans?
The MoD says turbine blades can create moving radar echoes that disrupt surveillance systems and could leave aircraft "not being detected" while inside an RAF Low Flying Area; Ministry of Defence planning records show it has lodged at least four objections to windfarm proposals in the past year.
Which projects has the ministry named?
The ministry has flagged Hope Moor (23 turbines up to 200m), a six-turbine scheme at Burton Agnes, a 13-turbine site near the Scottish borders and an 87-turbine offshore proposal in the Irish Sea.
Who decides whether Hope Moor proceeds?
Hope Moor is designated a nationally significant project and its fate will be decided by the energy secretary; DESNZ says it coordinates defence, community and environmental considerations.
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