The Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Lord Botham have raised objections to a proposed wind farm with 200-meter-high turbines in North Yorkshire due to concerns over radar interference and potential hazards for RAF aircraft. The project, named Hope Moor Wind Farm, includes 23 turbines that could interfere with military operations at nearby RAF bases such as RAF Leeming and Brizzlee Wood air defence radar station. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband must decide on the NSIP after objections from the MoD about possible risks to national security and air traffic safety. Lord Botham criticizes the government for potentially compromising defense capabilities while pushing renewable energy initiatives.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-08,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Lord Botham, a former England cricketer and crossbench peer living near Hope Moor in North Yorkshire, has joined the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in opposing plans for 200m-high wind turbines. The proposed Hope Moor Wind Farm includes 23 turbines reaching up to 200 meters above ground level, spanning areas of County Durham and the Yorkshire Dales popular with walkers. Due to its scale, this project has been classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP), allowing Ed Miliband, then energy secretary, to make the final decision bypassing local planning processes.
The MoD objects to these plans because the wind turbines could cause significant disruption to radar operations at RAF Leeming and an air defense radar system in Brizzlee Wood, Northumberland. Specifically, they are concerned that the turbines will lead to 'unacceptable interference' with military activities critical for national security. Lord Botham criticized the Labour government's stance on the project, likening it to a cricket team trying to knock down its own stumps.
Written for “Wind Turbines Near Military Base” on 2026-10-08,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
The Ministry of Defence has objected to plans to install 200m-high wind turbines in a North Yorkshire beauty spot over fears they would cause major disruption to RAF operations.
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they → object → operations
Proposals for Hope Moor Wind Farm, which will straddle picturesque areas of County Durham and the Yorkshire Dales popular with walkers, include 23 wind turbines reaching 200 metres above ground level.
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which → straddle → level
Such is the size of the proposed development, it has been deemed a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project [NSIP], meaning it can ultimately be approved by energy secretary Ed Miliband, foregoing the usual planning process.
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it → propose → process
However Mr Miliband’s Department for Energy, Security and Net Zero [DESNZ] is now in a stand-off with the MoD after concerns about the project were raised by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation, which maintains the military estate on behalf of the government.
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which → raise → government
In a letter, seen by the Mail, the MoD said the wind farm development could cause ‘unacceptable interference’ with radar at RAF Leeming, 30km away.
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development → see → Leeming
The turbines could also cause unacceptable interference to an air defence radar 108km away at Brizzlee Wood, Northumberland, designed to protect the country.
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turbines → cause → country
The MoD also raised concerns that, owing to their height, the turbines could pose a risk to RAF aircraft, which fly as low as 76m above the ground during low-level training.
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which → raise → training
Last night former England cricketer and crossbench peer Lord Botham, who lives close to the proposed development and has been campaigning against it, said the Labour government is ‘like a cricket team where half the players are trying to knock down their own stumps.’
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players → live → stumps
Lord Botham has criticised the proposals and accused the government of acting 'like a cricket team trying to knock down their own stumps'
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Botham → criticise → stumps
The Hope Farm proposals could see 23 wind turbines placed over swathes of North Yorkshire and County Durham countryside
‘With Russia and Iran testing our defences, this is no time to make life difficult for RAF pilots protecting our skies,’ he said.
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he → see → skies
‘They need radar that works and don’t need 200 metre wind turbines filling their windscreens.
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turbines → need → windscreens
‘Imagine being an RAF pilot flying through these hills at 500mph, knowing that the could-not-care-less green zealots of Whitehall have made it into a giant obstacle course.
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zealots → imagine → course
‘If Putin was writing Britain's energy policy, he would struggle to do more damage than the eco-crazies planning to carpet the countryside with these huge wind turbines.’
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he → write → turbines
He added: ‘People in London would never tolerate these enormous 200 metre contraptions in their favourite parks.
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People → add → parks
‘Yet they expect us northerners to passively watch while our magnificent moors are turned into industrial estates.’
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moors → expect → estates
Energy secretary Ed Miliband will have the final say on the development as it has been deemed a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project
Fred Olsen Renewables, the company behind the Hope Moor development, says the scheme could generate enough renewable electricity to power about 135,000 homes while helping meet climate targets.
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scheme → have → targets
The company said the area had been chosen because it ‘benefits from favourable wind conditions, enabling efficient generation of clean electricity.’
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it → say → electricity
However Conservative councillor Angus Thompson, of North Yorkshire Council, said: ‘The MoD’s stark warning is the nail in the coffin for this scheme.
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warning → say → scheme
‘Now we learn that the MoD considers that these monster turbines threaten national security and the lives of pilots.
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turbines → learn → pilots
'This hopeless project should be abandoned without delay.’
A spokesman for DESNZ said: ‘We work closely with the Ministry of Defence.
‘
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We → abandon → 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.'
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defence → consider → environment
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