Press Release
THE CROWN ESTATE ANNOUNCES UPDATE ON THE RELOCATION OF FOUR OFFSHORE WINDFARM SITES
25 October 2005
In December 2003, The Crown Estate awarded 15 options for the second round of development of offshore windfarm projects. The sites were restricted to three strategic areas: the Thames Estuary, the Greater Wash and the North-West coast.
It was acknowledged at that time that if following further detailed investigation and consultation with local stakeholders, severe problems with the site became apparent, developers could make a one-off application to relocate within the same strategic area. This application was to be made in consultation with The Crown Estate and the Department of Trade & Industry (DTI). The process was set out in a Procedure Note issued to all developers in September 2004.
Following extensive consultation with all the relevant government departments, it was agreed that four projects faced substantial problems: Westermost Rough, Triton Knoll, Dudgeon East (all in the Greater Wash) and Greater Gabbard (Thames Estuary). All four sites were allowed to submit proposals for revised site locations.
This has led to the agreement of alternative locations for the Westermost Rough and Greater Gabbard projects. Both remain within their original strategic areas. This decision will not influence whether the sites subsequently receive all of the necessary consents for construction from government departments.
Please follow the links for the locations map and a list of co-ordinates:
The two sites beyond the territorial water limit (12 nautical miles), Triton Knoll and Dudgeon East, are still under consideration by The Crown Estate and the DTI. In reaching this decision we are conscious of the need to maintain the momentum of the round two programme and ensure that those developers remaining on their original sites retain sufficient confidence to progress their projects without fear of compromise.
The Procedure Note provided additional flexibility for round two developers to modify their site boundaries by up to forty percent in order to overcome problems, respond to comments from stakeholder interests and to optimise project development. To date we have agreed to a modification to the Thanet project in the Thames and an early, minor change was also made to London Array prior to its application for consent in June 2005. We anticipate further applications as projects progress towards application for consents.
Further Information
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 BERR (formerly Department of Trade & Industry)
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