BASE HEADER

Yes

ID sylw: 107027

Derbyniwyd: 06/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Ministry of Defence

A separate response was submitted by the MOD specifically related to the MOD Safeguarding concerns:

Within the Draft Policy D: Large Scale Renewable Energy Generation and Storage, the MOD notes
and welcomes the provision for Solar-Based and Wind-Based Energy Development. Wind energy
section 6.6 identifies. “Wind energy developments must minimise and/or mitigate amenity and
environmental impacts, including to: g) Avoid or adequately mitigate shadow flicker, noise and
adverse impact on air traffic operations, radar and air navigational installations; and. i) Ensure safety
in relation to the distance to power lines and buildings, the impact on air traffic, Ministry of Defence
operations, weather radar and the strategic road network.”
The MOD has, in principle, no objection to any renewable energy development, though some
infrastructure enabling renewable energy production, for example wind turbine generators can, by virtue
of their physical dimensions and properties, impact upon military aviation activities, cause obstruction to
protected critical airspace surrounding military aerodromes, or impede the operation of safeguarded
defence technical installations.
Where turbines are erected in line of sight to defence radars and other types of defence technical
installations, the rotating motion of their blades can degrade and cause interference to the effective
operation of these types of installations potentially resulting in detriment to aviation safety and operational
capability. This potential is recognised in the Government’s online Planning Practice Guidance which
contains, within the Renewable and Low Carbon Energy section, specific guidance that both
developers and Local Planning Authorities should consult the MOD where a proposed turbine has a
tip height of, or exceeding 11m, and/or has a rotor diameter of, or exceeding 2m.
Additionally, it may be necessary in certain circumstances for MOD to require the removal of permitted
development rights, where the use of these rights introduces elements that would not be compatible with
MOD safeguarding requirements