Plans to double the capacity of the Sheringham Shoal and Dudgeon offshore wind farms have taken a step forward after the Planning Inspectorate has accepted an application for examination. The application was submitted by Equinor on behalf of its partners in the two wind farms off the North Norfolk coast.
Dudgeon is owned by Equinor, Masdar and China Resources, whilst Sheringham Shoal is owned by Equinor, Equitix Offshore 5 (co-owned by Equitix and the Renewable Investment Group TRIG) and a fund managed by Macquarie Asset Management).
Equinor’s Project Director Kari Hege Mørk said: “As we have developed these projects over the last three years, we have sought to find ways to maximise local benefits and minimise disruption.”
To mitigate local disruption the projects will include trenchless crossings of all A and B roads and 20 other local roads; construction of a haul road along the cable route to reduce the number of access HGV movements on the local road network; and repositioned construction access locations to meet stakeholder and landowner requests.
Prior to the examination, a statutory consultation will be open until 14 November