The UK Planning Inspectorate has accepted RWE’s application for the Five Estuaries offshore wind farm for examination. The final planning decision for the project is expected in the summer of 2025.
The project now moves into the pre-examination phase of the consenting process, with the examination phase expected to commence later in the summer and last six months.
A final decision on consent will rest with the UK Secretary of State for the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero.
“ I would like to extend our thanks to everyone who has taken the time to engage with us during the development process. It is through this engagement, alongside our close coordination with the North Falls Offshore Wind Farm project, that we have submitted proposals that deliver the best possible project, while minimising impact to local communities, wildlife and the environment,” said Diane Mailer , Project Lead.
The Five Estuaries offshore wind project is a proposed extension to the existing operational 353 MW Galloper offshore wind farm in the UK.
The new wind farm would be split across two separate seabed areas covering 128 square kilometres in the southern North Sea. The project includes up to 79 wind turbines with a maximum tip height of 399 metres and would be located approximately 37 kilometres at its closest point off the coast of south Suffolk.
Coming ashore at Sandy Point between Frinton-on-Sea and Holland-on-Sea in Tendring, Essex, underground cables then travel approximately 22 kilometres to a new substation located to the west of Little Bromley.
The project is planned to have a grid connection at the National Grid’s East Anglia Connection Node, near Lawford in Essex.
Five Estuaries is being developed by RWE on behalf of the project’s partners (RWE Renewables, a Macquarie-led consortium, ESB, and Sumitomo Corporation).
The offshore wind farm is expected to be fully operational by 2030.