I am writing on behalf of Cllr Craig Rivett to provide you with an update on the energy projects in the locality.
ScottishPower Renewables (SPR)
EA1N and EA2 – As you are aware the decisions are both subject of Judicial Review challenges which are ongoing, ESC is not however party to the documents and information in relation to these challenges. It is understood from publications on the SASES website that their challenges have been granted permission to proceed but I cannot advise as to how many grounds this relates to.
Applications DC/22/1821/DRR (EA1N) and DC/22/1820/DRR (EA2) were approved recently, these applications provided details in relation to Requirement 21 and Requirement 26 of the EA1N and EA2 Development Consent Orders (DCOs) and a short programme of ecological surveys and other non-intrusive surveys which SPR intended to undertake.
I note the e-mail received on 28 June 2022 in response to notification by SPR of survey works in the area. Please be assured that ESC continue to reiterate the Parish Council’s concerns regarding the current level of engagement on the project with SPR. The concerns expressed have been raised with both SPR directly and also the stakeholder team. The details provided within the forementioned applications confirm that at present SPR are not planning to undertake any intrusive works and provide an outline of the nature of activity which will be undertaken. If this changes and SPR intend to undertake intrusive works, applications similar to those permitted above will need to be submitted and agreed. As stated previously, providing the Parish Council has set up a notification alert on our website they will be informed should this occur. Please be aware however that the local planning authority only has 28 days to determine a discharge application under Requirement 26, which is shorter than the eight week time period allowed for the discharge of documents under other requirements. This is due to the pre-commencement nature of the works under Requirement 26.
EA3 – ESC has agreed the details in relation to all the applications submitted by SPR to discharge requirements in respect of specific areas and Work Numbers of the EA3 DCO. It remains the intention that works on the project will be starting before the end of August. As previously stated, the works will commence in up to four localities, the converter station site and three Construction Consolidation Sites (Papermill Lane - Bramford, Playford Corner - Playford and Clappits - Newbourne).
SPR recently held a couple of public information days in relation to the project, one in Waldringfield (29 June) and one in Playford (28 June). There were also a number of similar events held in Mid Suffolk. The events included information presented on boards as well as hard copies of plans etc, there were also members of the construction team available answer questions raised.
SPR has secured a Contract for Difference for the EA3 project alongside some other offshore wind projects in the locality including Norfolk Boreas and Hornsea 3 - Contracts for Difference (CfD): Allocation Round 4 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
EA1 – SPR are continuing their restoration works and are undertaking some rectification works in specific locations along the cable corridor to ensure that all the cables are buried to a depth of at least 1m.
National Grid Venture (NGV) – Nautilus and Eurolink Projects
NGV has published on their website a Feedback Summary following their non-statutory consultation which took place last year - download (nationalgrid.com). This document provides a very brief summary of the responses to the questions posed.
There remains limited information to provide by way of an update on both the Nautilus and Eurolink projects. NGV is however continuing to work with National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) exploring potential opportunities for coordination.
NGET – Sea Link Project
As stated above, NGET and NGV are continuing to work together to explore opportunities to reduce the impacts of the projects (Sea Link, Nautilus and Eurolink) through coordination.
Whilst we still think it likely there will be a non-statutory consultation this year, it is likely that this will be later than we had predicted but ESC does not have information at present as to when this will be.
North Falls – Statutory consultation is likely to be towards the end of 2022, with the DCO application submission anticipated at the end of 2023.
Five Estuaries – A non-statutory consultation is currently being held on the project and will run until 12 August 2022. Information in relation to the consultation can be found on their website - Consultation – Five Estuaries.
The consultation material confirms that the project will be connect to the network at a new substation called the East Anglia Connection Substation, near Lawford, Essex. The substation is part of National Grid’s wider reinforcement work proposed between Norwich, Bramford and Tilbury (East Anglia GREEN).
The non-statutory consultation will be followed later by a statutory consultation, with the submission of the DCO application expected Q3 2023.
NGET’s East Anglia GREEN – This project as indicated above, proposes new high voltage network reinforcement between Norwich, Bramford and Tilbury. The project as currently designed does not fall within East Suffolk Council’s boundaries.
A non-statutory consultation was held on the project between April and June this year. ESC provided a response to the consultation which has been published on the Council’s website - ESC-Response-to-East-Anglia-GREEN-Non-Statutory-Consultation-June-2022.pdf (eastsuffolk.gov.uk).
Indicative timeline includes statutory consultation in spring/summer 2023 and DCO application submission 2024. It is intended that the project would be fully operational by 2031.
EDF Energy - Sizewell C
The decision on the Sizewell C project has been delayed and is now expected no later than 20 July 2022. Once published ESC will be spending time reviewing the various reports, decision letter and DCO.
A new planning application has been submitted to ESC for consideration proposing a new wetland habitat for Marsh Harriers – DC/22/2273/FUL. The application proposing mitigation which is also to be provided under the DCO, if consented
Planning permission has recently been consented to provide artificial badger setts at Kenton Hills, Leiston - DC/22/1965/FUL.
Offshore Transmission Network Review (OTNR)
As part of the Pathway to 2030 workstream of the OTNR the Holistic Network Design (HND) and a Network Options Assessment (NOA) refresh have been published.
- Summary of the HND report - download (nationalgrideso.com)
- HND Main Report - download (nationalgrideso.com)
- NOA refresh 2021/22 - download (nationalgrideso.com)
The HND outlines the infrastructure required to deliver the target of 50GW of offshore wind by 2030. It is designed to combine the connection assets for offshore projects with the required network reinforcements needed to transmit the power. It should be noted that although SCD2 was referenced within the NOA published in January, the NOA refresh and HND does not include reference to this project.
The HND relates to projects within the Pathway to 2030 workstream (Crown Estate’s Seabed Leasing Round 4 and Crown Estate Scotland’s Scotwind Leasing Round) and does not include the projects considered to be within the Early Opportunities workstream which have been identified as inflight projects that already have a firm connection agreement but not planning consent. The HND therefore does not include the projects in East Anglia.
An update has been published following the HND from project partners - Offshore Transmission Network Review: Update from project partners following publication of the Holistic Network Design (publishing.service.gov.uk).
A summary of the progress on Pathfinder projects under the OTNR has also recently been published on the OTNR website (Offshore Transmission Network Review: Pathfinder projects - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)) which includes a letter from a number of developers who are progressing projects which affect East Suffolk (Joint statement from North Falls, Five Estuaries and National Grid: Commitment to exploring coordinated network designs in East Anglia - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)). The letter states that the promotors are working with the Government and Ofgem to progress the changes needed to enable greater coordination between the projects but disappointingly at present the projects are not currently being identified as Pathfinder projects under the Early Opportunities workstream.
In terms of next steps we are expecting a publication this year in relation to the Enduring Regime, a consultation on community benefits options and potential a consultation on any policy changes required to facilitate to the Energy Security Strategy. We are also expecting a publication in relation to the Early Opportunities outcomes.
Energy Bill – Introduced to Parliament on 6 July 2022 - Energy Bill [HL] - Parliamentary Bills - UK Parliament
Kind regards
Tony