Public Notice: Equinor New Energy Limited
26th April 2023
Notice of proposed changes to an accepted Development Consent Order
Regulations 7 and 8 of The Infrastructure Planning (Compulsory Acquisition) Regulations 2010
Sheringham Shoal Offshore Wind Farm Extension Project and Dudgeon Offshore Wind Farm Extension Project
An application for a development consent order (“DCO”) was submitted by Equinor New Energy Limited (“the Applicant”) of 1 Kingdom Street, London W2 6BD to the Secretary of State on 5 September 2022 and was accepted for examination on 3 October 2022 (“the Application”). The reference number applied to the Application by the Inspectorate is EN010109. This notice concerns changes to that Application which are sought by the Applicant.
Notice is hereby given pursuant to Regulations 7 and 8 of the Infrastructure Planning (Compulsory Acquisition) Regulations 2010 that the Applicant made a request to amend the Application on 11 April 2023, including changes to the areas of land which would be subject to powers of compulsory acquisition (“the change request”).
Summary of the Project:
The Application is for development consent to construct, operate, maintain, and decommission two offshore wind farms known as the Sheringham Shoal Extension Project (“SEP”) and the Dudgeon Extension Project (“DEP”), and the associated development to connect each offshore wind farm to the national grid.
SEP and DEP will include both offshore and onshore infrastructure including offshore generating stations, which comprises up to 23 wind turbines and up to 30 wind turbines, located approximately 13.6 km and 24.8 km north of the North Norfolk coast for SEP and DEP, respectively.
SEP and DEP are located within the UK’s Exclusive Economic Zone. SEP and DEP will be connected to shore by offshore export cables installed to the landfall at Weybourne, on the north Norfolk coast. From there, the onshore export cables travel approximately 60km inland to up to two new high voltage alternating current (HVAC) onshore substations near to the existing Norwich Main substation. The onshore substation(s) will be constructed to accommodate the connection of both SEP and DEP to the transmission grid.
The DCO would authorise the compulsory acquisition of land, interests in land and rights over land, and the powers to use land permanently and temporarily for the construction, operation and maintenance of SEP and DEP.
Summary of the proposed provision:
The onshore cable corridor for SEP and DEP passes through Phase 2 of a development site known as the Food Enterprise Park (“the FEP Phase 2 site”). The SEP and DEP cable corridor bisects the FEP Phase 2 site and there is a potential conflict between the Phase 2 FEP development and the current proposed location of the SEP and DEP cable corridor.
The following changes are being sought by the Applicant to:
1. Amend the Order Limits for the Application to include additional land where the cable corridor passes through and to the south of the FEP Phase 2 site;
2. Reduce the Order Limits slightly in the northern part of the FEP Phase 2 site;
3. Utilise the existing FEP access road and remove the separate new access that was proposed through to the FEP Phase 2 site; and
4. Include the option to use trenchless crossing under Church Lane to the south of the FEP Phase 2 site. This would also involve a small increase to the area of land over which rights are sought, which were previously subject to temporary possession only.
The amendments to the land affected by compulsory acquisition as a result of the changes sought are:
- Plots 28-002, 28-009 and 28-010 would reduce in size as a result of a slight narrowing of the Order Limits to the northern part of the FEP Phase 2 site crossing the A47;
- Plots 28-011, 28-014, 28-015 and 28-016 would increase in size as a result of the widening of the Order Limits through the FEP Phase 2 site and crossing Church Lane; •
- Plots 28-012 and 29-013 would be “no longer used” as a result of removing the new temporary access road that was proposed to the FEP Phase 2 site; •
- Plot 28-018 would reduce in size, as the area subject to temporary possession only would reduce to allow for the trenchless crossing under Church Lane;
- Plot 28-019 would increase in size, as a result of the increase in the area subject to acquisition of rights to allow for the trenchless crossing under Church Lane; and
- New plots 28-023, 28-024, 28-025, 28-026 and 28- 027 would be created to allow the use of the existing and proposed FEP access road. All of these plots would be subject to temporary possession only.
These amendments have been incorporated into and are shown on the updated version of the Land Plans and Book of Reference that have been submitted to support the change request.
An updated Statement of Reasons and an Addendum to the Funding Statement have also been submitted to support the change request.
Copies of Application documents
A copy of the change request, updated Land Plans showing the land affected, the revised draft DCO, an updated Book of Reference, an updated Statement of Reasons, an Addendum to the Funding Statement and further information relating to the change request, including a copy of the Supplementary Environmental Information supporting the change request, can be viewed and downloaded, free of charge, from the documents tab at the Planning Inspectorate’s project website: https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/ projects/eastern/sheringham-and-dudgeon-extensionprojects/?ipcsection=overview and in the ‘DCO Application Documents’ section of the Applicant’s website:
The change request and supporting documents can be inspected at the following locations:
If you require alternative methods for inspection of the application documents, please telephone the applicant on: 0808 1963 673 or email: info@sepanddep.co.uk.
Documents will be available for inspection until 26 May 2023.
A copy of the change request and supporting documents can be made available in hard copy format on request at a cost of £500. For any bespoke document requests please contact the Applicant using the contact details below, who will provide the cost.
USB device copies can be provided for free and are available upon request to the Applicant. Further information can be obtained from the Applicant using the following contact details:
- Email: info@sepanddep.co.uk
- Freepost: FREEPOST DUDGEON AND SHERINGHAM EXT
- Telephone: 0808 1963 673
Representations in relation to Compulsory Acquisition
Any person may submit a representation on the change request – including giving notice of any interest in the land affected by it, or making any comment on or objection to the change request – during the representation period, which must be made directly to the Planning Inspectorate. Any representations (giving notice of any interest in the affected land, or objection to the change request) must be made on the Planning Inspectorate’s Registration and Relevant Representation Form. The Registration and Relevant Representation Form can be accessed and completed on the relevant page for the Application on the following website: https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/eastern/sheringham-and-dudgeon-extensionprojects/?ipcsection=overview
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 (EN010109) should be quoted in any correspondence.
All representations must be received by the Planning Inspectorate no later than midday on 26 May 2023.
In submitting a representation, it should be noted that the personal data and correspondence relating to any representation will be made publicly available. If you do not wish personal data to be made publicly available, you should state why when submitting the representation. The Planning Inspectorate will publish the representations with your name removed, however, the representations may give them less weight during the Examination as a result. Please note that all representations submitted will be published on PINS’ website and will be subject to their privacy policy, found online here: https://www.gov.uk/ government/publications/planning-inspectorate-privacynotices/customer-privacy-notice
Equinor New Energy Limited
