UK: Burbo Bank Extension Offshore Wind Farm Application Accepted for Examination

The Planning Inspectorate has announced that the application by DONG Energy Burbo Extension (UK) Ltd for the proposed extension to the Burbo Bank Offshore Wind Farm has been accepted, by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, for examination.

The application for the proposed Burbo Bank Extension project, being an extension to the existing Burbo Bank Offshore Wind Farm and covering an area of 40 km² and with an estimated generating capacity of up to 250 MW, would be located west of the operational Burbo Bank Offshore Wind Farm in Liverpool Bay, around 7 km north of the North Wirral coast, 8.5 km from Crosby beach, and 12.2 km from the Point of Ayr on the Welsh coast.

The application was submitted on 22 March 2013 and the decision to accept the application to proceed has been made in accordance with section 55 of the Planning Act 2008 (as amended by the Localism Act 2011).

When considering whether or not to accept an application for examination the Secretary of State has regard to the application documents submitted, any adequacy of consultation representations received from local authorities, and the extent to which the developer has had regard to any guidance issued. Other matters relating to the application will be considered by the Examining Authority during the examination and interested parties will have an opportunity take part in that process and make representations if they wish.

The acceptance to proceed decision and a copy of the application can be viewed at the Burbo Bank Extension Offshore Wind Farm project page on the Planning Inspectorate, National Infrastructure website.

It is now for the applicant, DONG Energy Burbo Extension (UK) Ltd, to publicise the fact that its application has been accepted to proceed to examination and invite people who are interested in the proposal to register with the Planning Inspectorate as an interested party by making a relevant representation.

Once the period for registering as an Interested Party to make relevant representations has opened, people will be able to register with the Planning Inspectorate easily online at:

https://infrastructure.planningportal.gov.uk/burbo by visiting the project’s page and completing the online ‘Registration and Relevant Representation form’. Alternatively, those without internet access may call the Planning Inspectorate, National Infrastructure Directorate helpline: 0303 444 5000 for a printed registration form.

Sir Michael Pitt, Chief Executive, Planning Inspectorate said. “After careful consideration we have decided on behalf of the Secretary of State that the application submitted by DONG Energy Burbo Extension (UK) Ltd met the required tests set out in the legislation to be accepted for examination”.

Sir Michael added “The applicant must now decide when to publicise the fact that its application has been accepted to proceed to examination and announce when members of the public will be able to register with the Planning Inspectorate as an interested party in the application”.

Interested parties in an application can:

•  Say what they agree or disagree with in the application and why
•  Comment on what other people have said in their representations
•  Attend a Preliminary Meeting and say how they think the application should be examined
•  Request that an open floor hearing is held
•  Attend and request to speak at open floor or issue-specific hearings should one be held.

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Press release, April 22, 2013; Image: dongenergy