The Met Office engages in the formal planning consultation process on development proposals in collaboration with the MOD Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO).

This ensures that important national capabilities such as the UK Weather Radar Network and other operational meteorological radio uses (eg - satellite direct reception) vital to the provision of meteorological services to aviation and other civil contingencies stakeholders are not unduly compromised by development.

Wind turbines, in particular, have been shown to have the potential to adversely impact meteorological radio facilities, especially weather radar, if not sited with careful prior consideration. More information on what facilities the Met Office operates, impacts to our operations and how consultation by developers can help to mitigate such problems can be found in the guidance document Safeguarding Our Observations: Met Office guidelines for wind farm developers.

Safeguarding our Observations (PDF, 1 MB)

The Met Office is strongly supportive of cross-government activities to meet renewable energy targets and looks to work with developers to help achieve those aims where possible.

Maps of consultation zones

To aid the decision making of developers, we provide site-specific information for Met Office consultation zones.

UK weather radar sites

UK Weather Radar Network Consultation Zones

• Castor Bay (PDF, 1 MB)
• Chenies (PDF, 4 MB)
• Clee Hill (PDF, 3 MB)
• Cobbacombe Cross (PDF, 3 MB)
• Crug-y-Gorllwyn (PDF, 3 MB)
• Dean Hill (PDF, 3 MB)
• Drium-a-Starraig (PDF, 1 MB)
• Hameldon Hill (PDF, 4 MB)
• High Moorsley (PDF, 3 MB)
• Hill of Dudwick (PDF, 2 MB)
• Holehead (PDF, 3 MB)
• Ingham (PDF, 3 MB)
• Munduff (PDF, 3 MB)
• Predannack (PDF, 1 MB)
• Thurnham (PDF, 3 MB)
• Wardon Hill (PDF, 2 MB)

Additional Met Office radio sites

Additional Met Office Radio Site Consultation Zones

• Ablemarle (PDF, 4 MB) - Radiosonde
• Camborne (PDF, 2 MB) - Wind profiler and radiosonde
• Dunkeswell (PDF, 3 MB) - Wind Profiler
• Exeter (PDF, 3 MB) - Satellite
• Herstmonceux (PDF, 2 MB) - Radiosonde
• Isle of Man (PDF, 1 MB) - Wind profiler
• Lerwick (PDF, 1 MB) - Radiosonde
• South Uist (PDF, 1 MB) - Wind profiler
• Watnall (PDF, 4 MB) - Radiosonde
• Wattisham (PDF, 3 MB) - Wind profiler

Contact information

The Met Office strongly encourages developers to consult with us (through DIO pre-planning) at the earliest possible stage and maintain contact throughout the process, so that we may work with the developer and ensure that any concerns can be addressed and overcome where possible.

*Please note that the normal MOD pre-planning service is currently suspended. In the interim period until MOD pre-planning is able to be restored, it will however be possible to directly refer relevant pre-planning applications on Met Office safeguarding zones directly to the Met Office. Please refer to the attached PDF safeguarded zone maps above and if you believe your proposal to fall within a particular zone then forward the  relevant information (PDF, 39 kB) to safeguarding@metoffice.gov.uk. Please note that pre-planning feedback will only be given on Met Office safeguarded zones, no opinion will be offered on wider MOD assets.

For general enquiries relating to proposed planning applications that may affect Met Office safeguarded sites, please continue to forward all other correspondence to:

MOD Safeguarding
Defence Infrastructure Organisation
Kingston Road
Sutton Coldfield
West Midlands
B75 7RL

Telephone: 0121 311 3781

Fax: 0121 311 2218

Email:

• DIO-Safeguarding-Wind@mod.uk (all wind turbine planning application consultations)
• DIO-Safeguarding-Statutory@mod.uk (all statutory planning application consultations)

General information on how to engage in the pre-planning process is available from MOD Safeguarding.