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Development consent for Hornsea Three

By: James Bernthal-Hooker 31/12/2020 Planning Inspectorate

General Windfarms

The Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) in the UK has granted Ørsted’s 2.4 GW Hornsea Three offshore wind farm a Development Consent Order. Today (31^st December 2020), the Secretary of State communicated a favourable decision, following several delays.

Hornsea Three is to be located in the North Sea off the coast of North Norfolk. The project is currently poised to have a maximum capacity of 2.4 GW and, if approved, it will be the world's largest offshore wind farm, featuring up to 300 wind turbines. It is expected to power approximately 2 million UK homes.

Back in June, the Secretary of State reported that he was minded to approve this application subject to further information, including the provision of a detailed Compensation Plan. Specifically, he highlighted a potential adverse effect on integrity (AoI) on the kittiwake feature of the Flamborough and Filey Coast SPA in-combination with other plans or projects. However, having received further information, he has concluded that Ørsted is ‘able to secure appropriate compensatory measures.’

‘Conditions have been included in the DCO to secure the provision of compensation in relation to the impacts on the Flamborough and Filey Coast Special Protection Area and the North Norfolk Sandbanks and Saturn Reef Special Area of Conservation and The Wash and North Norfolk Coast Special Area of Conservation’, wrote Gareth Leigh, Head of Energy Infrastructure Planning at BEIS.

Commenting on the development, Duncan Clark, Head of Region (UK) at Ørsted, said: ‘We’ve worked closely with key stakeholders to develop a robust compensation plan focused on the implementation of onshore artificial nesting structures specifically designed for kittiwake. The unique compensation plan for Hornsea Three demonstrates that the industry can continue to deliver on the Government’s offshore wind ambition of 40GW by 2030 in a sensitive and environmentally responsible way and we would like to thank Shoney Wind for providing specialist knowledge on kittiwake artificial nesting towers.;

He continued: ‘Climate change remains a very serious threat to our environment and habitats and there is an ever pressing need to act. Once complete, Hornsea Three could provide clean power to over 2 million UK homes and offset over 128.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide over its lifetime. It will make a significant contribution towards meeting the UK’s net zero commitments and in the crucial fight against climate change. We will now be reviewing the full Development Consent Order and will continue to work closely with stakeholders and local communities as we take the project forward.’

For more information on offshore wind farms worldwide, click here. Alternatively, you can view projects and their associated infrastructure worldwide using 4C Offshore's interactive map.

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Development consent for Hornsea Three

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