Hello and welcome to the Five Estuaries Offshore Wind Farm May update.
Earlier this month we closed our Stage 2 Consultation, concluding an eight-week public consultation period to present and obtain feedback on our proposals. On behalf of myself and the Five Estuaries team, we extend our most sincere thank you to those who took the time to attend one of our public information events and provide feedback.
Over the course of the consultation we:
- provided consultation materials in 20 information points, such as libraries, and on our website
- held ten in person events across Essex, Suffolk and Kent
- held two online webinars
- met with over 450 people at our events
- received around 700 responses.
This is a great response to the consultation, and we really value the opportunities we have had to talk to people directly about their views. We will now take the time to carefully consider all feedback received ahead of finalising our formal Development Consent Order application which we plan to submit towards the end of 2023.
Local MPs and Councillors visit Galloper Offshore Wind Farm
The Five Estuaries team were delighted to take Harwich and North Essex MP Sir Bernard Jenkin and Clacton MP Giles Watling, along with Essex County Councillor Lesley Wagland, Tendring District Councillor Nick Turner and Andy Paine, North Falls Project Director out to Galloper Offshore Wind Farm this month.
Sir Bernard Jenkin MP said: “This was not just a great day out, but an education: about how the wind industry is developing a scale and efficiency that makes wind power more and more relevant to our clean energy future.
The trip was to showcase the operational wind farm which has been generating green energy for over five years and to discuss the plans for Five Estuaries.
The trip was a good opportunity to provide an update on our plans as presented at Stage 2 Consultation, talk about key concerns and answer questions. With representatives from Galloper and North Falls also in attendance, it was a good to demonstrate how the operational project has benefited the area through use of the local supply chain, and enhancement of local employment and skills development, as well as answering questions on how North Falls and Five Estuaries are working closely together to minimise impacts to the local community.
“Thank you very much indeed for such an interesting and informative visit to the Galloper Offshore Wind Farm, which was exceptionally well organised. I appreciated the opportunity we had to ask questions and provide feedback at the session with your team on the Five Estuaries wind farm proposals with their related aspects of North Falls’ wind farm proposals.” – Cllr Lesley Wagland.
Presenting at the EEEGR Southern North Sea Conference 2023
Last week was the 2023 Southern North Sea (SNS) conference hosted by East of England Energy Group (EEEGR).
The two-day event hosts some of the biggest names in the energy sector, including around 70 exhibitors and attracting over 1,000 visitors.
I was asked to speak at this year’s event, and provided an update on our development, highlighting some of the key challenges and potential benefits that we face as we progress the Project – being supply chain, education and employment. With the 2023 theme being 2030 and what’s needed to help us achieve net zero, this was fitting, with many other developers highlighting the same challenges. Supporting the supply chain and creating opportunities for education, skills development and employment transition from other industries is high on our agenda and will be a key focus for us as we finalise our application and make plans, should the Project receive consent.
Onshore Archaeological Trial Trenching
Five Estuaries and North Falls have been jointly undertaking archaeological trial trenching within private land to better understand the potential for buried archaeology. The activities in one of the Project’s proposed substation search areas is now completed.
Any further surveys are expected to take place from late summer / autumn this year following discussions with the county archaeologist and in agreement with the relevant landowners.
Land Information Questionnaires
Land Information Questionnaires (LIQs) have been distributed by our land agents Dalcour Maclaren. The LIQs will help to identify people who may have an interest in land associated with the project. If you have received a LIQ, we encourage you to complete and return this as soon as possible, to help us make sure we communicate with the right people with an interest in land relevant to our proposals.
If you have any questions about the LIQ, the Dalcour Maclaren team can be contacted on 01869 352 725 or ve-nf@dalcourmaclaren.com
Get in Touch
If you have any questions about the Project, you can email us at fiveestuaries@rwe.com or call us on 0333 880 5306.