The examination period for Vattenfall’s 1800MW Norfolk Boreas offshore wind farm off the east coast of England has been extended to 12 October from 12 May as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
An extension request was made by the Planning Inspectorate to BEIS on 6 April because “several hearings had been cancelled potentially resulting in interested parties not been given a fair opportunity to participate in the examination”.
Vattenfall Norfolk Boreas project manager Graham Davey told reNEWS: “This delay is one of the many unfortunate consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic, and not linked to the application itself.
“As final hearings were cancelled, the Examining Authority asked additional questions and everyone has been able to make their views known.”
“We are confident that there is very little left to explore, and that it will be possible to complete the process well within the five-month limit provided by the Secretary of State.
“Vattenfall’s Norfolk Boreas Project is an excellent example of a coordinated project, deploying best-in class technology in order to deliver an efficient, economic project for people locally and across the country, and help boost East Anglia and the UK’s green economic recovery.”
East of England Group chief executive Simon Gray added: We are increasingly hearing calls from people wanting to see a newer, greener future emerge as we plan a roadmap to lead us out of the COVID 19 pandemic.
“The development of this project and other, future offshore wind farms off the coast of the East Anglia, can give us all hope for the future. Hope for the environment, hope for future generations, hope for employment and development and the opportunity to stimulate our economy and the next generation of the regions workforce.
“We would like to call upon the authorities to expedite the process to enable this project to progress and provide a stimulus to the supply chain in the region which desperately need the clarity of a pipeline of projects in the region to maintain and grow jobs and the local economy.”
The request also said that “several interested parties no longer had the capacity to participate in the examination process as a result of Covid-19 resource prioritisation”.
BEIS said that the Secretary of State expects the examining authority to “make best efforts to complete the examination process as soon as is reasonably practicable within the extended period”.
A new examination timetable is to be published by Tuesday 19 May.