Necton Parish Council

Vattenfall narrows search area for underground onshore cable route ahead of ecological studies

Vattenfall, the developer of a strategic Norfolk offshore wind farm, has revealed its latest thinking for the green energy scheme.  (see EDP, 26 January 2017)

Local people and communities along a proposed 60km underground cable route for the 1.8 gigawatt (GW) Norfolk Vanguard Offshore Wind Farm will be informed in a report that the potential development area has narrowed from a 3-7km wide search area to a 700 metre corridor. The narrowing of the search area allows more focused ecological surveys.

Ruari Lean, Vattenfall’s Project Development Manager for Norfolk Vanguard, said: “We spoke with nearly eight hundred people last autumn and as a result we have been able to make good progress on the development of Norfolk Vanguard.”

Many advised on the cable route, substation and the cable relay station pointing out cultural, environmental and historical features which should be considered.

Mr Lean added: “We have managed to narrow the search area for the cable route from what was around 7,000 metres at its widest to 700 since the public engagement last autumn. That allows us to focus our ecological assessment work. We are looking forward to discussing these plans with people in March and then refining the route further later this year with the benefit of more local feedback.”

Vattenfall has published today its feedback summary report on last autumn’s seven public engagement events.

“The summary report found that many people were interested in the benefits of the project. We know from experience that economic, social and environmental benefits from wind farm investment can be significant. So one of our priorities in 2017 is to talk further to people about how we can have a really winning impact,” said Mr Lean.

After coming to an agreement with National Grid, Vattenfall plans to bring power from the 1.8GW offshore wind farm, located 47km offshore at its nearest point, to the shore between Bacton and Eccles-on-Sea. Vattenfall will then run an underground cable approximately 60km from shore to connect into the existing National Grid’s substation near Necton.

In 2016, Vattenfall entered into an agreement with The Crown Estate, the manager of the seabed in UK waters, to develop Norfolk Vanguard with a target capacity of 1.8GW. If built this would generate enough clean power every year to meet the equivalent electricity demand of 4% of UK households. Norfolk Vanguard’s sister project, Norfolk Boreas, is expected to start its planning process later this year.

Norfolk Vanguard and Norfolk Boreas are in important part of Vattenfall’s drive towards more sustainable power production and carbon neutrality by 2050. Vattenfall’s journey to 2050 will be supported by a 2025 target to triple its wind power capacity to 7GW.

You can find the summary report via this link.

 

 

The Parish Council were informed in October of the opening of a public consultation by Vattenfall on a proposal to build one and maybe a second sub-station within a 3 KM radius of the existing National Grid station in the village.  Vattenfall held a public event in the community centre on 21 October and attendance figures were approximately 180 local people.

To date the Parish Council has:

• Had an exploratory discussion with Cllr Wilkin (Breckland Council) and Cllr Kiddle-Morris (Norfolk County Council) to understand what this might mean to the village and surrounding area and what threats and opportunities it might pose.
• Cllr Matthews and the Clerk met with Ruari Lean, Senior Project Manager, Vattenfall, on the 21 October to clarify what the Council would expect to see by way of full, open and honest public consultation ahead of any official application to the Secretary of State.
• Submitted a letter to the Secretary of State on the 28 October, detailing what the Council wishes to see in an Environment Statement.
• Received five emails of objection from local residents on this matter, all of which received an acknowledgement and will be held on file.

The Parish Council cannot yet make a clear statement of position and awaits further clarification from Vattenfall on their specific proposals.  We understand that they will return to public engagement in spring 2017 having considered the initial feedback received during their October consultations.

The Council continues to listen to resident’s comments. They will help inform their formulation of a decisive statement of support or objection when the Council is called upon to engage within a planning application.

We recognise that there are people who are angry or concerned about the prospect and they have the opportunity to object via an active petition.  The public will have further opportunities to engage with the proposer when they return in early 2017.

Read the Council’s letter to the Secretary of State on this matter.

Read a newsletter from Vattenfall about Vanguard, posted to all residents in October 2016.

Read about Vattenfall’s work with communities that host their projects.

Read a Norfolk County Council report on the Windfarm proposal.

Read Vattenfall’s Environmental Impact Assessment (Scoping Report) on Vanguard.

Breckland Council have launched a second public consultation on their Local Plan.  To access their online facility, following this link:

http://breckland.gov.uk/local-plan-consultation

If you would like help with accessing this, contact our Parish Office, 721665, to arrange a time to drop in and access the consultation there.   We also have a paper copy of the consultation documents, which is available to view.

 

The minutes of Breckland Council’s Local Plan Working Group meeting where Necton Parish Council presented representations for consideration on the proposed allocations for this village are now available to view online:

http://democracy.breckland.gov.uk/documents/s39735/Minutes%20Public%20Pack%2012072016%20Local%20Plan%20Working%20Group.pdf

Read the background to this meeting and the report submitted by your Parish Council.

Breckland Council are currently consulting with Parish and Town Councils, through a series of meetings this week, on the preferred site allocations across the district, ahead of a further public consultation scheduled for September.

The meeting concerning Necton was held today in Swaffham.  Cllr Hayton and the Parish Clerk attended, along with a number of residents.  Cllr Wilkin, our Ward representative for Breckland Council also attended.

Following delivery of a report from Necton Parish Council and representations from the floor, the Local Plan Committee agreed to revisit the proposed site allocations map and work with the Parish Council to produce a revised map for public consultation in September.

Read our report to LPWG 12 July 16

Share your views below or email our Parish Clerk directly.

Read the minutes of the Local Plan Working Group.