The UK Planning Inspectorate has accepted for examination ScottishPower Renewables’ application to build the up to 900MW East Anglia 2 and 800MW East Anglia 1 North offshore wind farms off the east coast of England.
Both applications were submitted last month and the Planning Inspectorate will next publish “shortly” the date by which interested parties can register.
The inspectorate now has approximately three months to prepare for the examinations.
A pre-examination phase will allow interested parties to view the application documents, provide views on the projects in writing, read the views and attend a preliminary meeting.
Decisions on consent are expected next year, ScottishPower Renewables said.
East Anglia 2 will feature up to 75 turbines with maximum heights of 300 metres spread across an area of 218.4km square.
Construction is expected to start in 2024, if the consent application is successful.
East Anglia 1 North will comprise a total of 67 machines with heights of up to 300 metres across 208 square km.
Construction is expected to start in 2025, if the consent application is successful.