Calderdale Council has issued stinging criticism of a statutory consultation carried out over controversial proposals to build a giant windfarm above Hebden Bridge.

In an excoriating response to the Calderdale Energy Park (CEP) consultation over the firm’s plans to build to put 34 giant wind turbines on Walshaw Moor, the council has requested the developer starts again.

But CEP rejects the criticism and says the consultation was carried out in line with planning legislation requirements and its own statement of community consultation.

The company has already extended a deadline for some people to resubmit their responses to the consultation into early July due to a glitch.

The plan is classed as a national infrastructure project and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband will ultimately decide whether or not the application is given the green light.

But Calderdale Council is an important consultee and the authority’s response to the consultation is damning.

The council’s cabinet member for Economic Regeneration, Coun Keith Ingle (Reform UK, Halifax Town) and director for regeneration and strategy, Shelagh O’Neill, have approved the response letter, which has been sent to CEP.

It says: “The council considers that the consultation has not been carried out on an adequate basis.

“In particular, the scale of errors, omissions and inconsistencies, coupled with the piecemeal and evolving nature of the information provided, has prevented the council from understanding the proposed development and its likely impacts, and from engaging in a meaningful and informed way.

“In these circumstances, the council formally requests that: CEP withdraws the current consultation; addresses the identified deficiencies in full, including ensuring that all environmental information is accurate, consistent and complete; and undertakes a fresh statutory consultation exercise on the basis of a stable, coherent and reliable set of materials.”

Without these steps, Calderdale does not consider that CEP “will be able to demonstrate compliance with its statutory consultation duties under the 2008 Act”, with the consequent risk that any subsequent development consent order (DCO) application will be delayed, refused acceptance or otherwise prejudiced, according to the council’s now published response.

Calderdale Council concludes: “Overall, the council is increasingly concerned and disappointed that, given the scale and potential significance of the proposed development, the consultation material does not yet demonstrate a sufficiently robust, transparent or considered assessment of its impacts on communities, the environment and valued landscapes.

“The level of detail and clarity provided in a number of key areas falls materially short of what would reasonably be expected at this stage, raising serious concerns that the scheme has not been developed with an adequate understanding of the sensitivity of its receiving environment.

“It is essential that these deficiencies are addressed through a further round of statutory consultation, informed by a materially improved and comprehensive evidence base.

“The current submission does not provide a sufficient foundation for meaningful engagement, and the council considers that affected communities and stakeholders must be given a proper opportunity to review and respond to revised proposals that fully and transparently assess environmental and social impacts.”

CEP has responded by saying it takes all feedback seriously and remains committed to “constructive and ongoing engagement” with the council, statutory consultees and local communities as the project progresses through the planning process.

The company says the statutory consultation was undertaken in accordance with the requirements of the Planning Act 2008 and CEP’s Statement of Community Consultation, and takes in Calderdale Council criticism it ignored advice not to hold the consultation through the local election period.

“The consultation period exceeded the statutory minimum to ensure sufficient time for engagement, including allowing a full 28-day period following the local elections,” said the firm.

“We made proactive efforts to engage with Calderdale Council ahead of and during the consultation, including offering multiple opportunities to meet with the council’s technical teams.

“The consultation was designed to provide consultees and communities with an opportunity to understand the proposed Calderdale Energy Park and to share their views.

“Consultation at this stage is an important and iterative part of the DCO process, allowing feedback to inform the final design of Calderdale Energy Park,” says CEP.

CEP addresses Calderdale’s criticism of “deficiencies” in a key preliminary environmental information report, arguing it sets out its preliminary assessment of likely significant effects and is therefore not as detailed as the environmental statement that will accompany a future DCO application.

The consultation has generated a significant level of engagement, having received over 1,000 responses to date, says CEP.

“We are now carefully reviewing all responses received, including those from Calderdale Council and other statutory consultees, as we continue to develop and finalise the project ahead of submission later this year.

“We recognise the importance of keeping communities informed and engaged as the project evolves.

“As part of this, we are planning a reporting back exercise later this year to share how feedback has been considered and to provide updates on the next stage of the project,” says CEP.

The council says it does remain committed to “constructive engagement” with CEP on the scope and approach to any re-consultation, “to help ensure it is delivered effectively.”