Offshore Wind Projects

Kwasi Kwarteng Excerpts

Tuesday 21st July 2020 Written Statements

[The Minister for Business, Energy and Clean Growth (Kwasi Kwarteng)]

This statement concerns the application made by Orsted Hornsea Project Three (UK) Ltd for development consent for the installation, operation and maintenance of the proposed Hornsea Project Three offshore wind farm, its related offshore infrastructure off the coast of Norfolk and its related onshore electrical connections within that county.

Under section 107(1) of the Planning Act 2008, the Secretary of State must make a decision on an application within three months of the receipt of the examining authority’s report unless exercising the power under section 107(3) of the Act to set a new deadline. Where a new deadline is set, the Secretary of State must make a statement to Parliament to announce it. The statutory decision deadline for Hornsea Project Three offshore wind farm was reset previously to allow for further consideration of environmental issues. The latest deadline for the application was 1 July 2020.

On 1 July 2020, the Secretary of State issued a letter stating that he was minded to grant consent to the Hornsea Project Three offshore wind farm but that he required further information in respect of potential adverse environmental effects on the Flamborough and Filey coast special protection area. In order to provide Orsted Hornsea Project Three (UK) Ltd with sufficient time to provide that information and for other interested parties to comment, he has decided to set a new deadline of 31 December 2020.

The decision to set the new deadline for this application is without prejudice to the decisions on whether to grant or refuse development consents for them.

[HCWS414]