An update on the progress of the proposals to develop Galloper Wind Farm (an offshore wind farm located approximately 27 kilometres at its closest point from the Suffolk Coast) since the last update on 28 November 2011.
On 19 December 2011 the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) accepted the Development Consent Order application for Galloper Wind Farm (GWF). ‘Acceptance’ of the application means that a decision-making process, taking about nine months, now starts before the relevant Secretary of State is asked to make a decision on whether the scheme should be approved.
The next stage in the process is the completion of a registration period by GWF.
Registering an interest
The defined registration period is where members of the public can register their interest, and if they wish to, make formal representations to the IPC about our application. The registration period begins on 23 January and ends on 24 February 2012.
More information on the registration process and how to make representations is available by contacting the IPC on 0303 444 5000 or by looking at their website at http://infrastructure.independent.gov.uk/
GWF Invitation to Information Drop-in Session
To help answer any questions about the final application during the registration period, and the changes made following a consultation in June/July 2011, there will the usual set of minimal information panels about the final submitted proposals at Sizewell Beach Café on:
· Friday 3 February 2012 4.00pm – 8.00pm
· Saturday 4 February 2012 10.00am – 2.00pm
This will be an opportunity to speak to members of the project team and to clarify or put any questions forward in response to the application documents. Please note that once a project is accepted, as GWF now is, ‘material’ changes are not permitted to the scheme proposals. So what use the consultations will be is difficult to assess.
What happens following the registration period?
Please note that the last day when parties can make representations to the IPC is 24 February 2012. Please also note that representations must be made to the IPC not GWF (this is a legal requirement).
Following completion of the registration period, and GWFL certifying to the IPC that this has taken place, the IPC will hold a Preliminary Meeting which will include discussion of how the case will be examined and the initial issues that have been identified. The IPC will give at least 21 days notice of the date, time and place of the Preliminary Meeting (which the IPC will seek to hold in the area local to the application). All those who are by right “interested parties” or those who register with the IPC in the registration period will be invited to attend.
Please note that all application and relevant project documents are also published on the IPC website at:
http://infrastructure.independent.gov.uk/projects/eastern/galloper-offshore-wind-farm/
Further information on the Galloper Wind Farm project is available from the applicant at: www.galloperwindfarm.com. If you have any questions, please Chris Harris of the applicant on 07500 912002 or moc.essnull@sirrah.sirhc.