The UK Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Andrea Leadsom has postponed a planning decision on Orsted’s up to 2400MW Hornsea 3 offshore wind farm off the east coast of England.
A decision had been due in the first week of October but will now not be made until the end of March next year in order for further information and comments to be submitted on the project’s impact on birds, sandbanks and marine conservation zones.
In relation to ornithological issues, the delay relates to two late submissions by Orsted and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
Comments are invited on the submissions, as well as possible alternative options to lessen the project impact on birds at the Flamborough and Filey Coast Special Protection Area.
The marine conservation zone concerns relate to the impacts from cable rock protection on the subtidal sand features of the Cromer Shoal Chalk Beds and Markham’s Triangle zones.
Orsted has also been requested to submit, in consultation with the Marine Management Organisation, an updated In Principle Southern North Sea Special Area of Conservation Site Integrity Plan.
The previous plan has been deemed to be out of date.
All responses are required to be submitted by 31 December this year.
A project spokesperson said: “We are currently reviewing the notice from the Secretary of State and will work closely with the relevant stakeholders to provide a response in due course.
“We continue to work towards a positive decision on Hornsea 3 in March 2020.”