Consultation results

What we are doing

What we are doing

North Falls has decided to remove the northern array which was the section of the project that was closest to shore and where the turbines would have potentially been most visible. This means the closest turbine to shore will no longer be 22 kilometres but rather 42 kilometres, which will significantly reduce what people onshore will be able to see.

Removal of the northern array will also reduce the offshore footprint, alleviating concerns from the shipping sector and reducing the impact on birds.

What we are doing

The maximum height of the turbines has been reduced by 20 metres (from 397m to 377m) and the maximum number of turbines likewise has been reduced by 15 (from 72 to 57). Combined with the removal of the northern array, the reduction in turbine height and number should alleviate most of people’s concerns around visibility.

What we are doing

North Falls continues to play an active role in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero’s Offshore Transmission Network Review (OTNR) with other key stakeholders involved in the delivery of offshore wind and remains committed to include an offshore grid connection option within the development consent order application we submit to the Planning Inspectorate.

What we are doing

As with offshore, the onshore export cable circuits will also be reduced from four per project to two per project. This will decrease the overall footprint of the cable corridor, reduce the impacts on land take and the environment. It will result in reduced widths of the cable corridor during construction and the legal easement post-construction.

What we are doing

Having reduced the number of export cable circuits from four to two, per project, this also means the proposed combined onshore cable corridor will predominantly be 90 metres rather than the originally proposed up to 250 metres. This allows for soil storage, internal haul roads and possible micro-siting plus flexibility for use of horizontal directional drilling (HDD) under constraints, such as roads. There is ongoing work to identify the final combined construction cable corridor which may lead to further refinements.

What we are doing

The cable corridor for both projects is now almost fully aligned along its length, and joint work is ongoing around both the route and the future planning in terms of construction. The projects have signed a ‘good neighbour agreement’ which enables greater cooperation, coordination and transparency as the projects head towards submission of their development consent order applications.

What we are doing

North Falls PEIR Chapter 27 Traffic and Transport includes measures to reduce the effects of construction traffic upon local roads. When we submit our application, it will be accompanied by an Outline Construction Traffic Management Plan which will detail these measures such as: how HGV movements will be controlled, monitored and enforced; a ‘Travel Plan’ to manage the number of single occupancy car trips; restriction of HGV movements through Thorpe-le-Soken; use of a temporary haul road along the onshore cable route to reduce the need for vehicles to travel via the public highway; and use of trenchless techniques to cross roads wherever possible to reduce the need for temporary road closures. To ensure safety of cyclists we are also assessing options for a cycle path.

What we are doing

North Falls consulted based on a substation footprint of eight hectares. Taking into account the consultation feedback, and also given further engineering design studies, this has now been reduced by two hectares to a total of six.

What we are doing

Having reviewed the consultation feedback, undertaken further engineering design and re-assessed ways to mitigate potential impacts on the community, environment and residential properties, the southern route will now be progressed. This route is closest to Thorpe-le-Soken village and was selected because it is outside the Hamford Water Special Protection Area (SPA), and is more linear therefore will better enable creation of a continuous haul road within the corridor, which will help to reduce construction traffic impacts locally.

What we are doing

North Falls will now produce an outline version of this document for the project’s development consent order application. The outline will cover a large range of topics including how the effects from dust, noise, light, air quality, water/pollutant management, waste, and so on will be mitigated. It will be publicly available and will include details of how to raise a query regarding non-compliance of any of the contactors during construction.

What we are doing

As part of the project’s environmental impact assessment, a hydrogeological risk assessment will be undertaken to identify any private water supplies potentially at risk during the project’s construction. Once they have been identified, mitigation measures will be developed and presented within the North Falls Environmental Statement submitted with the project’s development consent order application.

What we are doing

The project acknowledges the expectation of the local community around potential benefits and there are ongoing discussions on potential options and ways to ensure they are anchored within the community. Local consultation will be held on this issue once the development consent order is approved, to develop a plan in partnership with those communities directly impacted.

What we are doing

North Falls will undertake a Health Impact Assessment, in line with the advice and best practice published by Public Health England. This assessment will consider the potential increase in demand on all healthcare services in the areas surrounding the proposed development, as well as the effects on other health factors. It will be published as part of the project’s Environmental Statement.