From Cllr Scott Borrows

Friday, 13 February 2026

Email from Councillor Scott Borrows, Hebden Royd Town Council, to Development Manager, Regeneration and Strategy, Calderdale Council, 12 February 2026

I am writing on behalf of residents of Hebden Royd who strongly oppose the Calderdale Energy Park proposals at Walshaw Moor, and who are deeply concerned by the flawed and inadequate Statement of Community Consultation (SoCC) currently being put forward by the developer.

We formally request that Calderdale Council rejects the SoCC in its current form and requires it to be substantially revised before any statutory consultation is permitted to proceed.

This request is made on the basis that the proposed consultation, as presently drafted, fails to meet the spirit, purpose, and practical requirements of meaningful public engagement, particularly for a nationally significant infrastructure project of this scale and sensitivity.

1. Failure to Include Preliminary Environmental Information
It is a fundamental principle of statutory consultation that the public must be provided with sufficient, accurate, and accessible information to allow them to form an informed view of the proposals.

The developer has openly acknowledged that their SoCC does not set out what Preliminary Environmental Information (PEI) will be made available, despite the fact that:

• Significant additional environmental baseline surveys have reportedly been undertaken since October, following Planning Inspectorate criticism of earlier inadequate surveys.
• These surveys relate to highly protected and irreplaceable peatland habitats, hydrology, bird assemblages, and other sensitive ecological receptors.

Without clear disclosure of what environmental information will be presented during consultation, residents of Hebden Royd are being asked to engage without the information required to properly assess impacts, undermining the credibility and lawfulness of the consultation process.

2. Inadequate Consultation Duration

Residents and Parish Councils have reasonably requested a 12-week statutory consultation period, reflecting:

• The complexity and scale of the proposals.
• The volume of technical material likely to be presented.
• The wide geographic area affected, including communities within Hebden Royd.

The proposed shorter consultation period is particularly concerning given that:

• The previous non-statutory consultation did not allow sufficient time for meaningful engagement.
• New and revised information is expected following earlier criticisms.
• Many residents rely on unpaid time to review complex and technical planning documentation.

3. Poor Timing and Democratic Impact

The proposed consultation period is scheduled to overlap with the May local elections, placing unacceptable constraints on:

• Calderdale Council's ability to properly scrutinise the proposals.
• Hebden Royd Town Council and Parish Councils' ability to engage residents.
• Public confidence in the fairness and transparency of the process.

This timing risks undermining democratic participation and should be avoided.

4. Ongoing Uncertainty Over Environmental Evidence

At the combined Parish Councils meeting in Hebden Bridge on 2 February 2026, the developer's team were unable to answer key questions about environmental survey work, due to the absence of an ecologist. This is of serious concern given that:

• The site includes internationally important blanket bog and peatland habitats.
• The developer has already indicated they may seek derogation from the Habitats Regulations.

Proceeding to statutory consultation before environmental evidence is complete, transparent, and available for scrutiny would be premature.

5. Appearance of Predetermination and Undue Rush

Residents of Hebden Royd are increasingly concerned that the consultation timetable appears driven by the developer's desire to submit a Development Consent Order by November 2026, rather than by the need for a lawful, inclusive, and genuinely informative consultation.

Statutory consultation must be a meaningful opportunity to influence proposals, not a procedural formality.

Conclusion and Request

For the reasons set out above, we respectfully but firmly request that Calderdale Council:

1. Rejects the Statement of Community Consultation as currently drafted.

2. Requires the developer to: -

• Clearly specify and publish the Preliminary Environmental Information to be included.
• Commit to a minimum 12-week statutory consultation period.
• Avoid consultation during the May local elections.
• Complete and transparently present all environmental baseline surveys before consultation begins.

This request is made to ensure the consultation process is fair, lawful, and worthy of public trust, particularly where irreplaceable environmental assets and long-term impacts on communities such as Hebden Royd are concerned.

Yours faithfully,

Cllr Scott Borrows
On behalf of residents of Hebden Royd opposed to the Calderdale Energy Park proposals