Galloper Windfarm Ltd (GWFL) has obtained an approval from Tendring District Council’s (TDC) Planning Committee to set up a temporary helipad at Great Oakley Lodge, Great Oakley, to serve the Galloper offshore wind farm.
GWFL needs the facility for up to 24 months while a more permanent base is established at Harwich International Port.
The temporary scheme includes a porta-cabin as an office and canteen, a new fuel storage tank, refuelling, lighting and car parking at the site.
The helipad will be needed from the middle of November until approval is granted for the permanent base and has been constructed.
Great Oakley Airfield is already allowed three helicopter take-offs per day and GWFL will require up to a maximum of a further 20 movements.
Susanne Ennos, TDC’s Planning Team Leader, said the facility is required to get staff to wind farms off the Suffolk Coast, where a significant investment in national infrastructure is being undertaken.
Galloper is an extension of the existing and fully operational Greater Gabbard wind farm off the coast of Suffolk. The wind farm will comprise 56 Siemens wind turbines, each with a capacity of 6MW, installed some 27km off the coast.
The offshore construction phase started in June 2016 and is expected to be completed in late 2017. The wind farm is expected to commence operations in March 2018.
Galloper is being constructed by innogy on behalf of GWFL, a GBP 1.5 billion joint equity partnership of 25% each between innogy UK, UK Green Investment Bank, Siemens Financial Services and Macquarie Capital.