UK approves offshore wind farms

Project One is the first development proposed within the Hornsea Zone. It will constitute up to three offshore wind generating stations with a total capacity of up to 1,200 MW and will include all offshore and onshore infrastructure.

The DCO for Project One authorises the construction and operation of up to 332 wind turbines, up to two offshore accommodation platforms, up to five offshore HVAC collector substations, up to two offshore HVDC converter stations, an offshore HVAC reactive compensation substation, subsea inter-array electrical circuits, a marine connection to the shore approximately 150 km in length, a foreshore connection and from the proposed landfall point at Horseshoe Point, onshore cables which will connect the offshore wind farms to the onshore electrical transmission station and the connection from there to National Grid’s existing substation at North Killingholme, a distance of approximately 40 km.

The decision supports the recommendation made by the Planning Inspectorate and follows an examination process which met or exceeded all the statutory timescales laid down in The Planning Act 2008 (as amended by The Localism Act 2011).

The application was submitted for consideration on 30 July 2013 and accepted for examination on 22 August 2013. It is the 30th project to be decided under the Planning Act 2008 regime and is the 11th wind farm examined by the Planning Inspectorate to gain development consent.

Following a six month examination during which the public, statutory consultees and interested parties were given the opportunity to give evidence to the Examining Authority, a recommendation was made to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change on 10th September 2014.

The Planning Inspectorate’s Chief Executive, Simon Ridley, said:

“The Examining Authority took full account of views from communities, particularly those near the North East coast of England who might be affected by this proposal, alongside national policy and evidence of the need for the project.”

“The certainty of knowing when a decision will be made following full consideration of public views provides developers and investors with the confidence needed to plan the infrastructure improvements this country needs to secure its energy and future economic growth.”