Labour will now tear up planning rules to allow 100ft wind turbines near businesses, schools and farms – even though experts say they could jam Britain’s defence radars.
Firms will be able to build wind turbines that stretch up to 100ft, or 30 metres, in size without needing planning permission, under Ed Miliband’s net zero plans.
The government said this would allow businesses, schools and farms to ‘lower their bills and make the best use of their land’ but admitted that such ‘wind turbines can cause interference with radar and navigation systems’ that are critical for missile defence.
A senior defence source told the Mail on Sunday last week that Ed Miliband’s wind farms interfere with radar-based defensive domes.
The source said the Government was hesitating on investing in an ‘Iron Dome’ like missile defence system because it would require the scaling back of Mr Miliband’s wind farm programme.
The source added that wind turbines ‘present a major obstacle for anti-missile systems because of the impact they have on the radar needed to guide them’.
The Energy Secretary has vowed to double England’s onshore wind capacity to 29 gigawatts by 2030, and has dedicated £1.1billion a year for offshore wind developers as part of his aim to meet Net Zero targets.
Firms will be able to build wind turbines that stretch up to 100ft, or 30 metres, in size without needing planning permission, under Ed Miliband’s net zero plans
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband is committed to switching to 95 per cent clean power sources by 2030 – a goal that will require a tripling of current wind capacity
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said that its plans to allow turbines to be built near schools, farms and businesses would need to include ‘an extra condition’ to mitigate the risk that defence radars would fail, according to The Telegraph.
The Royal Air Force (RAF) said: ‘We need to ensure that they can continue to operate safely’.
The RAF has also warned that the blades on Mr Miliband’s turbines reflect electromagnetic pulses pinged out by radar equipment to detect incoming aircraft and missiles.
This creates unhelpful background noise for system operators. Each blade on a turbine can generate a false return, meaning there is potential for disruption from several sites.
It is feared that with a cluttered signal, enemy missiles could penetrate radar defence systems.
A defence source told the Mail on Sunday last week that Britain was a ‘sitting duck’ with no missile defence systems.
The source said: ‘We are really lagging behind other countries on this. Ministers keep saying, “We have to be mindful of the cost implications, and there’s lots of competition for resources.
‘Fine. But then what’s the cost of a missile landing in the middle of London, Manchester or Birmingham? We are sitting ducks.’
The RAF has also warned that the blades on Mr Miliband’s turbines reflect electromagnetic pulses pinged out by radar equipment to detect incoming aircraft and missiles
Another alleged obstacle is that, while Israel leads the world in anti-drone technology, Sir Keir Starmer’s government has been reluctant to work closely with Tel Aviv given the strength of pro-Palestine feeling in the Labour Party.
The country’s Iron Dome is designed to intercept and destroy short-range rockets and artillery shells fired from distances of two to 43 miles.
The US paused the construction of five wind farms last December because of ’emerging national security risks’ around radar interference.
The Swedish government also blocked more than a dozen offshore wind farms in 2024 because they could interfere with missile detection systems – amid fears of a Russian missile attack.
But in the UK, owners of detached houses will be able to mount a 15 metre wind turbine on top of their home without planning permission.
A turbine up to 11.1 metres can be placed in a garden or on top of a block of flats.
And at 30 metres, turbines around schools, businesses and farms would stand at the same height as Christ the Redeemer and would be taller than the Angel of the North which is 20 metres tall.
Labour is committed to switching to 95 per cent clean power sources by 2030 – a goal that will require a tripling of current wind capacity. It could lead to the further relaxation of planning rules governing turbine construction.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said that its plans to allow turbines to be built near schools, farms and businesses would need to include ‘an extra condition’ to mitigate the risk that defence radars would fail
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: ‘We are getting on with the job of ensuring defence is an engine for growth by backing British jobs, British industry and British innovation. Since July 2024, we have signed 1,200 major contracts, and 84% of our annual spend goes to British-based businesses.
‘Earlier this year, we launched a dedicated Defence Office for Small Business Growth to boost opportunities and access, on top of our commitment to increase spending with SMEs by £2.5 billion by May 2028.
‘This government has overseen the biggest uplift in defence spending since the Cold War, with £270 billion investment across this Parliament. We are working flat out to finalise the Defence Investment Plan and will publish it as soon as possible.’
