ABP and East Suffolk Council’s Lowestoft Eastern Energy Facility (LEEF) has won the award for ‘Best Project’ in the regional Royal Town Planning Institute awards for Planning Excellence 2022.
The honours celebrate the positive impact of plans, projects and individuals in creating exceptional places and protecting our environment.
This award recognises the success of the LEEF (pictured) as a major planning project which supports the offshore energy industry on the East Suffolk coast, ABP said.
The facility is designed to provide the state-of-the-art infrastructure required to meet current and future industry demand.
Once complete, it will allow the Port of Lowestoft’s Outer Harbour to accommodate the next generation of offshore support vessels.
The project began in November 2020, when ABP applied to the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) to conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for reconstruction of the existing quay in the Outer Harbour at the Port of Lowestoft.
The UK port operator was subsequently granted a marine licence by the MMO, following a period of collaboration and joint working with the East Suffolk Council.
LEEF will eventually create more quay side space and 360m of deeper berthing space to allow three operations and maintenance vessels to use the berth simultaneously, as well as new offices and additional facilities for crew transfer vessels, while retaining fish landing sites to continue supporting the local industry, ABP said.
The East of England winners for the regional awards were announced on 30 June and will go on to enter the national final in October.
When presenting the award, the Royal Town Planning Institute said: “The grant of consent for the LEEF Project unlocks the potential for an energy cluster renaissance in Lowestoft, bringing new jobs and prosperity to the area and supporting the substantial and strategically important investments in offshore wind farm developments off the East Anglian coast.
“At a national level, LEEF has a major role in providing critical port infrastructure to enable the UK’s clean energy transition and path to net zero.”
ABP environmental lead Sophie Young said: “At ABP, we’re proud our LEEF development will support the increased production of more renewable, clean energy and bring hundreds of new jobs, investment and interest to the region.
“The collaboration between ABP, the MMO and East Suffolk Council has been exemplary, and has allowed us to deliver against the needs of multiple stakeholders in an efficient and coordinated way.”
MMO Marine Licensing Manager Adam Chumbley said: “This award is a fantastic example of how positive outcomes can be achieved by working together.
“Our role in licensing marine development is to provide solutions that protect the sea and deliver environmental, economic and societal benefits. This project really shows the value of collaboration and joint working in ensuring these aims are met.”