In February 2017, The Crown Estate launched a process for wind farm operators to apply for extensions to their existing projects. This opportunity closed in May 2018, with eight project applications received.
A plan-level Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA), was undertaken to assess the possible impact of the proposed wind farm extensions on relevant nature conservation sites of European importance. Independent experts were utilised and there were consultations with the statutory marine planning authorities, the statutory nature conservation bodies and a number of non-governmental stakeholders.
In August 2019, The Crown Estate announced the conclusion of the HRA confirming that seven of the 2017 extension application projects, representing a total generating capacity of 2.85GW, would progress to the award of development rights, including what is now called North Falls Offshore Wind Farm.
The Agreement for Lease between North Falls Offshore Wind Farm and The Crown Estate was signed in Autumn 2020 and the project is now in the the pre-application phase of its development with the aim of achieving a Development Consent Order (DCO) in 2025.
North Falls submitted a scoping report to the Planning Inspectorate in July 2021. This presented early project proposals and described the development process including how any potential impacts to the existing environment will be assessed. By seeking early comments on the North Falls Scoping Report, the project team aimed to ensure that the most robust and thorough environmental statement will be submitted to support our development consent order application in 2023.
The North Falls Scoping Report can be read here. The feedback received on this report from the relevant local planning authorities and statutory consultees resulted in a North Falls Scoping Opinion which is also now available to read here.
Scoping was followed by the preparation of a Preliminary Environmental Information Report (PEIR), which is a technical document covering the full range of every element that has been considered to date, its potential impacts and proposed mitigations. This report formed the basis of our statutory consultation held and provided a status on the project’s EIA process and on the progress of the preparation of the development consent application. All PEIR documents can be found online here.
Feedback given on the PEIR will be used to produce the final document required for the application, the Environmental Statement.
North Falls is planned to be operational by the end of the decade, thereby playing a key role in the UK Government’s ambitions to achieve 50GW of installed offshore wind capacity by 2030.
Its final capacity will be no less than its sister project Greater Gabbard (in excess of 100MW), which generates enough power to supply the annual electricity needs of approximately 400,000 UK homes.
The project is well underway with work that will determine how the final wind farm will look. Broadly, North Falls will comprise wind turbines and their associated foundations and array cables which will connect the turbines to up to two offshore substations. In the event of an onshore grid connection, export cables will transmit the power from the offshore substation(s) to shore, with onshore cables taking it to an onshore substation before it enters the national grid. In the event of an offshore grid connection, North Falls would connect to a third-party electricity network provider.
National Grid has offered North Falls an onshore grid connection location at a point near the existing Lawford substation in Tendring, Essex.
Date | Action |
---|---|
Summer 2019 |
The Crown Estate concludes its Habitats Regulations Assessment. Seven projects totalling 2.85 GW of new capacity to be awarded agreements for lease. |
Autumn 2020 |
Shareholder agreement signed between the two owners, SSE Renewables and RWE. Agreement for Lease signed with The Crown Estate. Early contracts awarded and start of detailed surveys to inform the Environmental Impact Assessment and Habitats Regulations Assessment. |
2020 to 2023 |
Onshore and offshore surveys and studies, project planning and design, stakeholder consultation and community engagement undertaken, along with an Environmental Assessment and Project Level Habitats Regulations Assessment. |
Spring 2023 |
Environmental Impact Assessment completed. Project Level Habitats Regulations Assessment completed. |
2024 |
Development Consent Order and supporting Environmental Information submitted to the Planning Inspectorate. |
2025 |
Planning Inspectorate makes recommendation to the Secretary of State. Secretary of State announces consent decision. |
2025/26 |
Project design finalised, major component and construction contracts awarded and wind farm constructed. |
2030 |
Wind farm expected to be operational by the end of the decade. |
North Falls is being developed by a 50/50 joint venture company owned equally by SSE Renewables and RWE.
North Falls’ sister project, Greater Gabbard is also owned equally by RWE and SSE Renewables. The 504MW wind farm is located in the southern North Sea, 20 kilometres from the East Anglia coast, adjacent to the North Falls site. It is operated by the SSE Renewables on behalf of both partners.