NOTICE OF ACCEPTANCE OF AN APPLICATION
FOR A DEVELOPMENT CONSENT ORDER BY THE PLANNING INSPECTORATE (ON BEHALF OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR BUSINESS ENERGY AND INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY) UNDER SECTION 56 OF THE PLANNING ACT 2008
HORNSEA PROJECT THREE OFFSHORE WIND FARM DEVELOPMENT CONSENT ORDER
REGULATION 9 OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING (APPLICATIONS: PRESCRIBED FORMS AND PROCEDURE) REGULATIONS 2009
REGULATION 13 OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING (ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT) REGULATIONS 2009
Notice is hereby given that the Secretary of State has accepted an application by Orsted Hornsea Project Three (UK) Ltd of 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG (“the Applicant”) for a Development Consent Order under the Planning Act 2008. The Application (Reference No. EN010080) was submitted by the Applicant to the Secretary of State c/o the Planning Inspectorate on 14 May 2018 and was accepted on 8 June 2018.
Summary of the Project
The Application is for development consent to construct, operate and maintain Hornsea Project Three offshore wind farm (Hornsea Three). Hornsea Three is the third development proposed within the former Hornsea Zone, and it comprises up to 300 offshore wind turbines together with associated offshore and onshore infrastructure and all associated development.
Hornsea Three is located within the former Hornsea Zone, to the east of Hornsea Project One and Hornsea Project Two. It is located 121 km off the Norfolk coast and 160 km off the Yorkshire coast, and covers an area of approximately 696 square kilometres.
Development consent is required to the extent that development is or forms part of a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project pursuant to section 14(1)(a) and 15(3) of the Planning Act 2008. As Hornsea Three is expected to have a capacity of greater than 100 MW it is a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project for the purposes of the Planning Act 2008. It is for this reason that the project falls within the remit of the Secretary of State.
The electricity generated from Hornsea Three will be transmitted via subsea electricity cables. The Hornsea Three cable corridor extends from the Norfolk coast, offshore in a north-easterly direction to the western and southern boundary of the array area. From the landfall west of Weybourne on the Norfolk coast, underground onshore cables will connect the offshore wind farm to an onshore high voltage direct current (HVDC) converter station or a high voltage alternating current (HVAC) substation, which in turn, will connect to the existing Norwich Main National Grid substation, located to the south of Norwich. The mode of transmission will be either HVDC, HVAC or a combination of the two. Depending on the mode of transmission, a HVAC booster station may be required (onshore and/or offshore). Should an onshore HVAC booster station be required, this will be in the vicinity of Little Barningham. The application includes the option to construct Hornsea Three in one or two phases.
The draft Development Consent Order (as submitted with the application) provides for flexibility in relation to the design of the generating stations and their associated development.
The Development Consent Order would authorise the compulsory acquisition of land, interests in land and rights over land, and the powers to use land permanently and temporarily. The Development Consent Order would also authorised alterations to the public highway network, the construction of temporary and permanent accesses to Hornsea Three, the temporary stopping up or management of the public highway, public rights of way and street works and the application and/or disapplication of legislation.
Environmental Impact Assessment Development:
The proposed works are environmental impact assessment development for the purpose of the Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2009 and accordingly an Environmental Statement accompanies the application.
Application form and accompanying documents:
A hard copy of the full suite of application documents, including accompanying plans, maps and other documents may be inspected free of charge from 14 June 2018 until 22 July 2018 at the following locations during the hours set out below:
A copy of the Environmental Impact Assessment Non-Technical Summary (NTS), as well as USBs containing the full application are available at the following libraries. All of these libraries have computers on site for individuals to view the application:
Copies of the documents are also available online through the Planning Inspectorate’s website at: https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/eastern/hornsea-project-three-offshore-wind-farm/. As well as through the applicant’s website at http://hornseaproject3.co.uk/en
Electronic copies can be provided on request by emailing HornseaProjectThree@orsted.co.uk, writing to Hornsea Project Three Offshore Wind Farm, c/o Emily Woolfenden Ørsted 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG or by telephone 0800 0288 466.
The documents can be made available in hard copy format on request at a cost of:
- Application documents including Consultation Report, Planning Statement or Report to Inform Appropriate Assessment and supporting Annexes – £350;
- Environmental Statement Report Volumes 1-3 – £600;
- Environmental Statement Annexes – £600; and
- Total cost for all documents – £1,500.
Representations:
Any representations (giving notice of any interest in, or objection to, the application) must be made on the Planning Inspectorate’s Registration and Relevant Representation Form which can be accessed and completed online by following the relevant link https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/eastern/hornsea-project-three-offshore-wind-farm/
If you would like to request a hard copy of the Planning Inspectorate’s Registration and Relevant Representation Form, please telephone 0303 444 5000. Completed forms should be sent to The Planning Inspectorate, National Infrastructure Directorate, Temple Quay House, Temple Quay, Bristol BS1 6PN. The Planning Inspectorate reference for the Application (EN010080) should be quoted in any correspondence.
The Planning Inspectorate’s Advice Notice 8.2: How to register to participate in an Examination, provides further guidance on how to register and make a relevant representation (December 2016) and can be accessed via the following link: https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Advice-note-8-2v3.pdf
Please note that representations must be received by the Planning Inspectorate by 11.59pm on 22 July 2018.
Please be aware that the Planning Inspectorate is required by law to make the information that you provide in any representation publicly available. Details published on Planning Inspectorate’s website will be restricted to your name and the text of your representation. However, any copies made available for inspection at public locations will contain your contact details.
