East Suffolk Council
North Falls Offshore Windfarm
SSE Renewables and RWE Renewables have established a 50:50 equal joint venture company to develop the North Falls Offshore Wind Farm project, an extension to the operational Greater Gabbard Offshore Wind Farm off the coast of England in the southern North Sea. Offshore wind developers signed an Agreement for Lease with UK seabed managers, The Crown Estate in September 2020, to extend the existing 504MW wind farm by a further 504MW. The final capacity of the project will be determined during the development and consenting process.
The project is located around 20 kilometres off the east coast of England and is named after the North Falls sandbank, located at the southern tip of the proposed site of the wind farm. The project extension is planned for an area of seabed covering a total of 150km2. The North Falls Offshore Windfarm will comprise a number of wind turbines on fixed foundations, plus dedicated offshore and onshore electrical infrastructure proposed to create 504MW of energy. The final grid connection location for the project has not yet been identified.
North Falls extension (click image to view full size) |
Consultations
Scoping report - July to August 2021
A Scoping report for the North Falls project was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate on 16 July 2021. East Suffolk Council provided comments on the report.
Non-statutory consultation (introductory consultation) - October to December 2021
An initial online consultation was held by the developer of North Falls between 25 October and 10 December 2021. The consultation sought to introduce the project and invite comments on the proposals.
Non-statutory consultation (pre-application consultation) - October to December 2022
This consultation sought further feedback on the project prior to the formal consultation on the preliminary environmental information later this year.
Statutory consultation - May to July 2023
Following two rounds of non-statutory consultation, North Falls has been analysing and considering feedback to develop the project further.
The statutory consultation for the North Falls Offshore Wind Farm project was held from 16 May to 14 July 2023 setting out more detailed proposals and the Preliminary Environmental Information Report (PEIR).
East Suffolk Council’s response is provided below in accordance with Section 42 of the Planning Act 2008 (‘the Act’) and Regulations 11 and 13 of the Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 (‘the 2017 Regulations’).
- East Suffolk Council response to North Falls Offshore Wind Farm Statutory Consultation
- Response letter Annex A -Suffolk Seascape Sensitivity to Offshore Wind Farms – Update Addendum (White Consultants, June 2023)
- Response letter Annex B – Comparison of Seascape and Visual Impact Assessment Methodologies (White Consultants, June 2023)
Targeted Consultation – March to April 2024
This Targeted Consultation is focussed on proposed localised changes to the project’s onshore PEIR boundary within the District of Tendring, Essex. East Suffolk Council’s response is provided below in accordance with Section 42 of the Planning Act 2008 (‘the Act’).
- More information about North Falls from National Infrastructure Planning website
- More information about North Falls from the developer’s website
North Falls Offshore Wind Farm - Development Consent Order (DCO) Examination
East Suffolk Council’s Relevant Representation (RR)
On 22nd August 2024, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (c/o the Planning Inspectorate) accepted the application for the North Falls Offshore Wind Farm project for a Development Consent Order (DCO) under the Planning Act 2008. East Suffolk Council (ESC) registered as an Interested Party by submitting a Relevant Representation to the Planning Inspectorate by the closing deadline of 18th October 2024. A copy of ESC’s submission is available below:
East Suffolk Council’s Local Impact Report (LIR)
East Suffolk Council’s submission of the Local Impact Report (LIR) to the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) for DCO Examination Deadline 1: 18 February 2025.