Our proposals
Why onshore wind?
The UK’s need for secure, clean, affordable energy has never been clearer than in recent times.
We still rely heavily on fossil fuels and imported energy, which leaves households and businesses vulnerable to global price and supply fluctuations. Onshore wind is one of the most cost‑effective, low‑carbon ways to produce home‑grown power, helping to reduce this reliance and support stable energy costs.
Projects like Hope Moor can make an important contribution to the UK’s target of cutting emissions to net zero by 2050, as well as its wider energy security goals, by strengthening our ability to meet more of our energy needs here at home.
Fred. Olsen Renewables has four decades of experience in developing, owning and operating award-winning green energy generation in the UK. Since the mid‑1990s, we have delivered onshore wind, offshore wind and solar schemes, and our 850MW portfolio across the UK, Norway and Sweden now generates enough clean electricity to power more than 701,000 homes. Working constructively with local communities is a core part of how we operate.
Recent changes to law and policy mean it is now possible to bring forward onshore wind projects in England, bringing the country in line with Wales and Scotland. Our experience and community‑focused approach means we are well placed to help deliver the clean, reliable and affordable energy the country needs, working side by side with local communities to ensure they share fully in the benefits.
Why here?
The site benefits from favourable wind conditions, enabling efficient generation of clean electricity. By harnessing a strong natural resource, Hope Moor can help deliver low‑carbon, home‑grown power, supporting both national climate ambitions and long‑term energy security.
An overview of our proposals
Our current design proposes 23 turbines across the site. At this stage, the layout reflects what we currently understand about the site from our initial surveys, including in respect of peat condition, cultural heritage features and other environmental features.
As the project continues to develop, we will refine the design using both your feedback and the results of our ongoing technical and environmental assessments. This may include adjusting turbine locations or reducing the number of turbines if necessary.
At our second stage of consultation, we will share our proposals for other elements of the project such as access tracks and construction areas.
We also plan to bring forward a package of environmental and ecological mitigation measures, alongside opportunities for wider landscape and habitat enhancement. Additional temporary works needed during construction will also be outlined at the next stage of consultation.
Our approach to the environment
Hope Moor will be sensitively designed to respect nature and the landscape, as well as the traditional land practices of the upland moors, while also creating jobs and investing in local communities.
The design of the wind farm will be informed by an iterative EIA process, which runs alongside consultation and technical studies. As new information becomes available, the proposals can be refined to avoid environmental effects wherever possible. Avoidance is the first step in the mitigation hierarchy and is central to addressing potential impacts, before considering measures to reduce or manage any remaining effects.
Fred. Olsen Renewables has successfully implemented Moorland Management Plans on our other projects where wind farm developments have been located on moorland. These plans have been implemented following construction of the wind farms and include enhancing habitats, restoring degraded blanket bog, ongoing monitoring of bird species and restoring heather structure.
A similar management plan would be developed for Hope Moor, designed to complement current land management practices and further support and enhance the site’s biodiversity.
Explore the proposals and environmental features in more detail using the Environmental features map
