Project information
About the project
Type of application: Generating Stations
Name of applicant: Morecambe Offshore Windfarm Ltd.
The Generation Assets of the Morecambe Offshore Windfarm, including fixed foundation wind turbine generators, inter-array cables, offshore substation platform(s) and possible platform link cables to connect offshore substations. The offshore windfarm site is located in the eastern Irish Sea, in water depths of 18-40m. The windfarm has an expected nominal capacity of 480MW. The offshore windfarm site is situated in the vicinity of the South Morecambe Gas Fields (which are currently expected to cease production around 2027 (+/-2 years)). An important factor in the windfarm site’s selection was the potential for the project to be the first windfarm to fully co-exist with oil and gas operations on previously developed seabed. The offshore windfarm site was selected as part of The Crown Estate’s Offshore Wind Leasing Round 4. Several operational windfarms are located near the site. Two larger Round 4 offshore windfarms are also planned to the west of the site. The Morecambe offshore windfarm t will help achieve the UK Government’s commitment to net zero by 2050 and tackle the climate emergency by producing electricity from renewable energy.
View the developer's websiteProject stage
This project is at the pre-application stage.
The application is expected to be submitted May 2024.
When we receive the application, we have 28 days to decide whether to accept it for examination.
If we accept the application, you will then be able to register to have your say and view all the application documents.
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Pre-application
This is where the applicant starts to create their application. The applicant is required to consult with people and organisations in the area. They must also create detailed documents about the impact the project could have on the environment.
It is important to get involved at this stage to influence the application before the applicant sends it to the Planning Inspectorate.
Find out what you can do at this stage and check our detailed guides. - In progress
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Acceptance
This is when the applicant sends us their application documents. We check if we can accept the application for examination. We have 28 days to make this decision.
How the acceptance stage works and what happens next. - Not started
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Pre-examination
The Examining Authority is appointed and is made up of one or more inspectors. Anyone who wants to have their say needs to register at this stage.
The applicant must publish that the application has been accepted by us. They include when and how parties can register to get involved. The time period for registering is set by the applicant but must be no less than 28 days.
The pre-examination stage usually takes about 3 months.
What happens during the pre-examination stage. - Not started
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Examination
The Examining Authority will ask questions about the proposed development. The applicant and anyone who has registered to have their say can get involved and submit comments at each deadline in the timetable. You can also attend hearings that may take place. This stage takes up to 6 months.
What happens at the examination stage? - Not started
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Recommendation
The Examining Authority writes its recommendation report. This must be completed and sent to the relevant Secretary of State within 3 months of the end of examination stage.
Making a recommendation. - Not started
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Decision
The decision stage is when the relevant Secretary of State then reviews the report and makes the final decision. They have 3 months to make a decision.
Who makes the final decision. - Not started
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What happens after the decision is made
Once the Secretary of State has made a decision, there is a 6 week period where people can challenge the decision in the high court. This is called a judicial review.
What you can do after the decision has been made. - Not started
Project location
Irish Sea, approximately 30km from the Lancashire coast.
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Contact us
Telephone
If you have an interested party number, have it with you when you call.
Telephone: 0303 444 5000
Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm (except bank holidays)
MorecambeOffshoreWindFarm@planninginspectorate.gov.uk.
When writing an email, quote the name of the project in the subject line.
We aim to respond within 10 working days.
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