Public Notice: Section 48 Planning Act 2008
24th August 2021
Regulation 4 infrastructure planning (applications: prescribed forms and procedure)
Regulations 2009 The Awely Y Môr offshore wind farm order 2021
Notice publicising a proposed application for a development consent order (‘DCO’)
Notice is hereby given that Awel y Môr Offshore Wind Farm Limited (the “Applicant”) of Windmill Hill Business Park, Whitehill Way, Swindon, Wiltshire, United Kingdom, SN5 6PB proposes to apply to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy under Section 37 of the Planning Act 2008 for the above mentioned Development Consent Order (the “Application”).
The Application relates to the construction, operation, maintenance and decommissioning of an offshore wind farm located approximately 10 kilometres off the coast of North Wales in the Irish Sea; including up to 91 wind turbine generators and associated infrastructure making landfall at Ffrith Beach, east of Rhyl, and in the County of Denbighshire, the installation of underground cables and the construction of an electrical substation and associated infrastructure in order to connect the development to the National Grid’s existing substation at Bodelwyddan (the “Project”).
The proposed DCO will, amongst other things, authorise components including:
Offshore
- An offshore wind turbine generating station with a gross electrical output capacity of over 100 megawatts, comprising up to 91 wind turbine generators with associated foundations, a maximum rotor diameter of 300m and a maximum tip height of 332m above Mean High Water Springs (MHWS).
- Up to two offshore substation platforms with associated foundations.
- One meteorological mast with associated foundations, LiDAR buoys and navigational buoys.
- Installation of a subsea cable to the Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm.
- A network of subsea inter-array cables including cable protection, connecting the wind turbines to each other and to the offshore substation platforms including cable crossings.
- Up to two subsea cable circuits including cable crossings, cable protection, cofferdams and trenchless installation works from the offshore substation platforms to shore, with a total cable length of approximately 65 km.
- Scour protection, as required, for foundations and cables.
Onshore
- Transition joint bays to connect the offshore cables and the onshore cables at Rhyl.
- Up to two buried cable circuits from the transition joint bays at Rhyl under the A525, the River Clwyd, the A547 and the A55 to a new electrical substation west of the St Asaph Business Park at Bodelwyddan, including cable ducts, jointing and trenchless installation works.
- The construction of a new electrical substation at Bodelwyddan together with associated equipment, accesses, landscaping and a temporary construction compound.
- Up to two buried 400kV cable circuits connecting the new substation to the National Grid substation at Bodelwyddan, including cable ducts, jointing and trenchless installation works.
- Temporary construction areas and access roads together with works to secure vehicular and/or pedestrian means of access for the Project, including alterations to bridges and removal and remediation of groynes.
- The permanent and compulsory acquisition of land and/or rights for the Project.
- Overriding of easements and other rights over or affecting land for the Project.
- The application and/or disapplication of legislation relevant to the Project including, inter alia legislation relating to compulsory acquisition.
- Such ancillary, incidental and consequential provisions, permits and consents as are necessary and/or convenient.
The Project is Environmental Impact Assessment Development. Accordingly, the Applicant will be making preliminary environmental information available. A copy of the Preliminary Environmental Information Report (PEIR) and non-technical summary (NTS), which includes details of the proposals, may be inspected free of charge in the exhibition section of the Applicant’s website: https://exhibition.awelymor.cymru/ which also contains other information on the Project.
Subject to COVID-19 restrictions the NTS, as well as other consultation materials, will also be available in hard copy at the deposit locations below. Please check the facility’s website in advance to confirm opening hours and any booking requirements to access the documents digitally.
If you require alternative methods for inspection of the PEIR, please telephone the Applicant on: 0800 197 8232 or email: awelymor@rwe.com. We are able to provide guidance on using the project website or can, upon request, provide a USB stick free-of-charge containing the PEIR. Hard copies of the NTS, the Statement of Community Consultation (SoCC), and the Consultation Questionnaire can also be provided free-of-charge upon request during the consultation period. Hard copies of the PEIR will be subject to a maximum charge of £1,000 to cover printing costs.
The documents (which include plans showing the location of the proposed development) will be available for inspection from 31 August 2021 until 11 October 2021.
Any responses in respect of the Project should be sent by email to awelymor@rwe.com or by post to Awel y Môr Offshore Wind Farm Ltd, RWE Renewables UK Ltd, Windmill Hill Business Park, Whitehill Way, Swindon, SN5 6PB.
Any response must be in writing and be received at the above addresses on or before 11 October 2021. Responses should explain who is making the response and give an address for future correspondence. Responses may be made public.
Please note that any consultation responses received after this date may not be considered.
24 August 2021
