UK Energy Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has delayed planning decisions for the 800MW East Anglia 1 North and 900MW East Anglia 2 wind farms off the east coast of England.
The two projects being developed by ScottishPower Renewables in the North Sea are now set to be issued final adjudications by 31 March 2022, more than two months later than initially planned.
Projects require planning permission to enter the UK’s Contracts for Difference auction. The application window for next year’s CfD round is to close on 14 January.
A ScottishPower spokesperson said: “We note that decisions on the consents have been delayed for the EA1N and EA2 offshore windfarm projects.
“We will continue to engage fully and proactively with the process.
“We remain committed to developing major offshore projects to deliver the UK’s Net Zero goals and to create long-term benefits for the local and wider UK economy.”
The consent decisions have been delayed as more information is needed in order to assess both projects, according to paperwork filed to consent authorities.
Kwarteng asked interested parties to provide further information on issues relating to potential wildlife impacts and increased flood risks from onshore works last month and is now requesting additional details.
Interested parties have already raised a number of concerns about the EA1 North and EA2 wind farms in previous consultation responses.
Bird charity RSPB and Natural England said that SPR’s latest plans did not give them confidence to rule out in-combination effects on protected seabird species across three separate conservation sites along the Norfolk coast.
Suffolk County Council and local protest group Substation Action Save East Suffolk were also unsatisfied with plans to reduce the risk of flooding caused by construction of the onshore cable route and onshore substation near Friston.
Kwarteng has set a deadline on the 31 January 2022 for further responses to be submitted about both projects.
SPR holds consent for the 1.4GW EA3 and is developing all three sites as the single 3.1GW EA Hub.