sign in sign up
<<
Home , Eccles on Sea, Felthorpe, High Kelling, Morston, Saxthorpe, Sea Palling

Sheringham Shoal Extension Project and Dudgeon Extension Project

Community Newsletter

February 2021

1 Introduction Shoal Extension Project

Dear community, and Dudgeon Extension Project As the operator on behalf of the partnerships, Equinor is bringing forward Welcome to the Community Newsletter for the Sheringham Shoal Extension proposals to extend the existing Sheringham Shoal and Dudgeon offshore wind Project (SEP) and the Dudgeon Extension Project (DEP). In this newsletter we will farms located off the Coast. summarise what we learnt from our phase one consultation in summer 2020, present our latest proposals, and discuss the opportunities for you and your SEP and DEP will have the potential to generate a combined 719 megawatts community to engage with us moving forward. (MW) of renewable power, capable of powering 820,000 UK homes. The SEP and DEP teams hope that you have started 2021 in a healthy manner. We will apply for a joint Development Consent Order (DCO) which will be It’s been a difficult start to the year, but I am hopeful circumstances will improve. determined by the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Our first priority is to keep everyone safe. We apply this approach across our (BEIS). Submission of the joint DCO is indicatively planned for Q4 2021. operations and activities – first and foremost for our teams in Egmere and . The same applies to our teams for SEP and DEP.

Despite Covid-19 we have been able to increase our insights into local conditions, We are investigating offshore generating areas of up to 190 km2 including cable routing, construction methods and our consultation approach, in total, where up to 56 turbines could be located. among others. Continuous interaction with the community, stakeholders and representatives is critical for us. Unfortunately, until government guidance allows, we will be unable to meet you in person. Equinor has been offered a grid connection at Main Substation by National Grid. A site for the onshore substation area However, we are doing our utmost to be present and available for any questions in the vicinity of the existing National Grid Norwich Main Substation you might have. Our community liaison officer - Nigel Tompkins - is always is currently being identified. available to contact and our mailbox is open to any enquiries you might have. You can find these contact details at the end of this newsletter. In our second phase of consultation, we are committed to our efforts to meaningfully interact and We are seeking to minimise potential impacts on the community communicate with you – through online meetings, working groups, and a range of and the environment by adopting a shared onshore footprint for online tools. For those, like me, who prefer to work on paper, we are catering for SEP and DEP. that as well.

This upcoming consultation will be crucial for us and we want to understand your SEP and DEP could generate enough electricity to power feedback, thoughts and concerns. This feedback will help us define the project 820,000 UK homes. footprint and minimise disruption to local communities.

Stay safe and I look forward to our phase two consultation!

Kari Hege Mørk, Project manager

2 3 About Equinor What we’ve learnt

Equinor is a broad energy company that has been operating in the UK for over Our phase one community consultation for SEP and DEP provided an 35 years and is the UK’s largest energy supplier. opportunity for people to view and comment on our early stage proposals.

In the UK, we currently power around 750,000 homes through our three wind The feedback we received as part of this consultation has helped to improve farms: Sheringham Shoal, Dudgeon, and the world’s first floating wind farm, our understanding of the local area and the aspects of SEP and DEP that are Hywind Scotland. important to the community for us to consider as we refine our proposals.

As a key contributor to the UK’s efforts to meet its net zero carbon target, Equinor Local resident is leading the way in decarbonisation. Equinor supports the UK economy, investing Local representative billions of pounds in crucial energy infrastructure, employing 650 people that are based in the UK, and working with over 700 suppliers across the country. Landowner Regular visitor Equinor’s plans for SEP and DEP will double its offshore wind capacity off the Local interest group member coast of Norfolk. Equinor will also operate Dogger Bank, the largest offshore wind Statutory organisation farm in the world, off the North East coast of . When complete it will be capable of generating around 5% of the UK’s electricity demand. Other

Dudgeon Offshore Wind Farm and Sheringham Shoal Offshore Figure 1: Chart showing breakdown of phase one consultation respondents Wind Farm

Dudgeon Offshore Wind Farm is owned by Equinor, Masdar and We welcomed over China Resources. Sheringham Shoal Offshore Wind Farm is owned by Equinor, Equitix and Green Investment Group. 1,700 visitors to our virtual exhibition.

Both wind farms have established community funds of £100,000 During our phase one consultation £ per year which in total have awarded over £1 million to projects in we received almost 300 pieces of Norfolk. feedback.

A summary of the feedback we received during our phase one consultation is The funds were set up to provide grants to Norfolk community available in our Consultation Summary Report, which can be downloaded from groups, including schools and non-governmental organisations our website: https://sepanddep.commonplace.is/proposals/5-documents- (NGOs), seeking financial assistance for initiatives that focus on library renewable energy, marine environment and safety, sustainability, or education in these areas. If you would like a hard copy of our Consultation Summary Report, please get in touch via the contact details on the back of this newsletter and we will send you a copy in the post.

4 5 Consultation timeline Evolving our proposals: landfall

In May 2020 we communicated the decision to select Weybourne as the 2019 preferred landfall location for SEP and DEP. Weybourne was selected following

October 2019 a comparative assessment of different options along the North Norfolk Scoping Report coastline, taking into account environmental sensitivities and the technical published and public information feasibility of the landfall location itself. day at November 2019 Scoping Opinion received Since our phase one consultation, through technical assessments and working 2020 from the Planning 2020 Inspectorate with local stakeholders, we have identified a preferred landfall location to the Spring 2020 Start of onshore west of Weybourne beach car park at the Muckleburgh Military Collection. environmental surveys and studies This location benefits from favourable conditions for Horizontal Directional July 2020 Publication of Drilling (HDD) to install cable ducts beneath Weybourne beach, minimising the Statement disruption to the shoreline. Additionally, the Muckleburgh landfall location of Community Consultation minimises the need for site access works that would otherwise be required for July 2020 landfall to the east of Weybourne. We held our phase one consultation in July and August We will continue to engage with the local community, Parish Councils, and 2020 November 2020 statutory stakeholders and will invite feedback on our proposed landfall Publication of our location during our phase two consultation. This feedback will continue to help phase one Consultation Summary Report refine our proposals at this location.

2021 The phase two consultation boundary will reflect the space under consideration Winter 2020/21 Ongoing for the landfall working area. This area will be further refined following our engagement with phase two consultation. the local community and stakeholders on February 2021 refinement of project Publication of We will also seek feedback during our phase two consultation on the cable proposals Community Newsletter routing proposals from Weybourne to . Our goal is to select the best route from a balance of technical, environmental and landscape considerations, March/April 2021 whilst minimising disruption to the local community. First stakeholder forums planned Spring 2021 We will publish our A map of our refined landfall location to the west of PEIR for consultation and commence our Weybourne beach car park at the Muckleburgh Military phase two community Collection will be available at our phase two consultation. consultation

End of 2021 Final DCO application submission to the Planning Inspectorate 6 7 320000 340000 360000 380000 400000 420000 440000

Key: The Sheringham Shoal Dudgeon Extension Project Area Sheringham Shoal Extension ± Extension Project will be Dudgeon Project Area Extension approximately 17.5 km Onshore Scoping Boundary (11 miles) offshore at the Phase One Consultation Boundary nearest point to shore. Offshore Cable Corridor Evolving our proposals: Dudgeon Dudgeon Onshore Substation Area Options Oshore Windfarm

onshore cable5900000 corridor 5900000 Sheringham Extension Dudgeon Following our selection of Weybourne as the preferred landfall location, we Extension have continued refining the one kilometre (km) wide onshore cable corridor Kingston upon Hull-Zeebrugge Sheringham that was presented in our October 2019 Scoping Report. As part of this we Shoal presented a refined onshore cable corridor during our phase one consultation Sheringham Shoal Oshore The Dudgeon Extension in July and August 2020. Windfarm Project will be

Using phase one consultation5880000 feedback, inputs from landowner discussions, approximately 31 km (20 5880000 miles) offshore at the environmental surveys, and engineering studies we have now identified an Kingston upon Hull-Rotterdam onshore cable corridor that is typically 200 metres wide. nearest point to shore.

The main principles that have informed the refinement of the onshore cable corridor include:

Projects for the Extension proposals and offshore 2: Our onshore Figure • avoiding populated areas where possible 5860000 Wells-next-the-Sea 5860000 • avoiding key sensitive features where possible Stikey Blakeney Sheringham We are committed to undertaking a j Weybourne • a preference for the shortest route robust and extensive EIA. This process High Zeebrugge-Kingston upon Hull Holt will consider all environmental, social, A more detailed plan of the onshore cable corridor will be presented at our Little B1105 and economic impacts caused by SEP Bessingham Roughton phase two consultation, where we will ask for your feedback to help further A148 and DEP. refine our proposals.

B1110 B1355 Saxthorpe

Choosing compound5840000 locations 5840000 A1065 Aylsham Several onshore temporary construction compounds for material and B1150 equipment will be required. This will include several satellite compounds along Whissonsett the onshore cable corridor, and a main compound for project offices, welfare Booton Sutton North Elmham A more detailed map of our facilities, staff parking, and material and equipment storage. Catfield B1145 Mill Street refinedA149 proposals will be available Lyng A1067 Felthorpe Horningin our phase two consultation. 0 5 10 15 20 Kilometres Beeston Martham We are in the process of identifying locations for the construction compounds. Base Map: © OpenStreetMap (and) contributors,Hemsby CC-BY-SA 5820000 5820000 We are currently investigating areas with existing infrastructure to reduce the Drayton A47 need for initial site establishment320000 works. In order to minimise340000 disruption to the 360000 380000 400000 420000 440000Fleggburgh Mattishall Little Plumstead

local road network we are identifying the most suitable accesses to and from A47 West Caister

Shipdham 25 km

the compounds. 6. Norwich The Norfolk Broads B1108 Little Melton Eaton j Great Yarmouth During our phase two consultation, we will present a number of potential Saham Hills Ketteringham Hingham A146 compound locations and invite your feedback to these locations. Further Watton Bradwell 0 Gorleston targeted consultation will also be undertaken in relation to the main compound. Mulbarton 9 8 9 9 Chedgrave A143 A140 Hopton Thompson Loddon Rockland All Saints B1332 A1075

B1111 B1113 617500 620000 622500 625000

A11 1 Sheringham and Dudgeon A1 B1172 Extension Projects Cringleford Norwich 47 Figure 1a A47 A Bixley A ± 4 Hall Road Onshore substation area screening 7 A11 inc. constraints Kirby Road 0

0 B1172 0

5 Legend B1332 0

3 0 Kirby Bedon 4 Study Area Sites of Special Scientific 1

A Interest (SSSI) 1 Hethersett Onshore Scoping Area 1 47 A A Historic Landfill Site Proposed Substation Zone Source protection zone I 3 11 Shortlisted Fields Keswick B1 Cantley Lane CRoW Registered Common

!( Pond Land Arminghall Lane A 4 7 A11 StokeRoad 320000 340000 360000 380000 400000 420000 Primary Road 440000A47Environment Agency Main River A Road Legend: Flood Zone 3 Intwood A140 B Road Keswick Flood Zone 2

A Minor Road

1 High Voltage Underground 4 Key:0 7 Listed BuildMarkshalling Farm RoadElectricity Cable A4 Markshall Preferred Zones Scheduled Monument Electricity Transmission ± Arminghall A146 A Overhead Lines 47 Dudgeon Registered Park and Phase One Onshore Garden National Grid Substation - Extension 400kV Substation Area Options Ancient Woodland Caistor St Edmund Underground Utility Line 3 1 1 1 County Wildlife Site (CWS) B Existing National Grid Framingham Pigot A11 A

e Local Nature Reserve 1

Ketteringham n Norwich4 Main Substation (LNR)

0 a

Lower East L

Tas Shortlisted fields for Carleton d Dudgeon

Evolving our proposals: o

o Caistor Lane

Stoke Road w

t our onshore substation n

I 255m Swardeston search area of up to onshore substation5900000 area Dunston 5900000 Dunston m Indicative Substation

Zone B 5

5 6.5 hectares.

Sheringham 2 Site Scale 0

Chandler Road Chandler

0 Extension05 Dudgeon 5 Zone B Norwich Road 2

0 Extension Framingham Earl

3 5 Equinor has been offered a grid connection at Norwich Main Substation 3 by 1 Gowthorpe Lane Data Sources: © The Crown Estate, 2019; Natural England, 2019; 1 1 B National Trust, 2019; Historic England, 2019; JNCC, 2019. © British National Grid. The site selection process for the onshore substation therefore Crown and OceanWise, 2019. All rights reserved. License No. EMS- SheringhamEast Carleton EK001-570575. Not to be used for Navigation. 02 Base Map: Contains OS data © Crown Copyright and database right

Shoal 0 2 A1402019 began with a three km search area from the existing Norwich Main Substation. 4 East Carleton St Thomas Lane 1 B1113 Burgate Lane

A 03 01 04 4 3 1 Stoke Holy Cross 13 Zone A 11 Following the three km search area presented in our October 2019B Scoping Zone A Stoke Holy Long Lane Report, environmental constraints mapping enabled us to identify zones with Cross Poringland The Common Stoke Lane the greatest potential to5880000 accommodate the onshore substation area. This was 5880000

d

a

underpinned by a series of design assumptions and site selection principles, o

Yare R A11 Shotesham Road Swainsthorpe h B1332

Hethel c including avoiding areas of high value to the local community and maximising i Cantley Lane w Low Road r

Norwich o 0 Mulbarton Document No: PB8164-RHD-ZZ-ON-DR-Z-0039 4 Intwood Road

N 1 distance from residential areas. We then identified potential substation site Road Stoke A Co-ordinate System: British National Grid Mulbarton Arminghall Lane 0 0.5 1 1.5 km River Chet options within the preferred zones. 1:34,700 South Norfolk 3 Cuckoofield Lane Mill Lane 1 0 0.35 mi 11 B Cranes Road Bracon Ash Intwood Keswick B1332 Following a comparative assessment of a total of 17 options, the process 0 0.55 km Figure 3: Map of shortlisted substation areaBrickkiln fields Lane presented at phase one consultation. Wymondham Road Keswick Hall Road Markshall Farm Road Hallback Lane Howe Lane Intwood Hall

0 Hawes Green Mill Lane A 17/06/2020 1:25,000 A3 JT MW MC identified five shortlisted0 fields for the onshore substation area, as shown in Markshall

0 j 5860000 5860000

0 Arminghall Howe

0 A140 REV DATE SCALE SIZE DRW CHK APR Figure 3. These fields 3 were presented during our phase one consultation Key:

Long Lane during July and August 2020. Phase Two Onshore Report: Caistor St EdmundShotesham St Mary

Phase I Consultations Grub Street 0 4 Substation Area Options A47 A47 Wreningham 1 A

High Ash Lane Ash High In response to your phase one consultation feedback, and further Flordon Road Existing National Grid Site 2 - This is made Shotesham 3 Norwich Main Substation Brooke Road Backwood Lane B111 up of a combination of Brooke

Stoke Road environmental and technical assessment, we have now selected two preferred Wymondham Road Greenways Swardeston Lane Caistor Lane Field 2 and Field 4 from High Green

site options for the location of the onshore substation area, as shown in Figure 4. Market Lane Mangreen Lane phase one consultation. Swardeston Mangreen B1113 Dunston HERE, Esri

A number of factors have5840000 influenced the selection of the two preferred sites. 5840000

Both sites are close to the existing Norwich Main Substation and benefit from Stoke Lane d

Norwich Road a The Ridings

o

R

r

existing screening that restricts views from surrounding areas. The sites also e l Intwood Lane

d Stoke Road

n

a h

allow sufficient space for the Hornsea Project Three connection to Norwich C Rectory Road Main Substation. Catbridge Lane Potters Way

Wood Lane

A140 Stoke Holy Cross

Yare Scotts Hill B1113 A11 Mill Road Visualisations of the onshore substation area site options from key viewpoints Hickling Lane Long Lane 0 5 10 15 20 Kilometres Cantley Lane Low Road will be presented during our phase two consultation, where we will ask for your Site 1 - This was Field Base Map: © OpenStreetMap (and) contributors, CC-BY-SA Norwich

Carr Lane Carr Intwood Road

Spong Lane Stoke Lane Road Stoke 5820000 5820000 1 in our phase one Arminghall Lane feedback on both options. Gowthorpe Lane The Common East Carleton Road 1:34,700 Mill Lane South Norfolk 320000 340000 360000 380000consultation. 400000 420000 440000 d 0.35 mi

0 a o

Church Road R Intwood

h Keswick

c i

Substation site access is an important consideration for determining our w B1332 0 r 0.55 km Swainsthorpe o The Common N Rectory Lane Keswick Hall Road Markshall Farm Road Hallback Lane final preferred location. The phase two consultation boundary will reflect the Intwood Hall Brickle Road Markshall Mulbarton j Abbot's Lane Arminghall ongoing work and engagement needed to refine the substation access options A140 Shotesham Road

e

n

Shotesham Road

a

L Figure 4: Map of shortlisted substation areas that will be presented at phase two consultation. and temporary working areas. g

n

Cuckoofield Lane o Caistor St Edmund B1113 L The Rosery A47 A47

Leafyoak Lane

Shotesham Road Tas Bracon Ash Lane Ash High 10 Brickkiln Lane 11

Long Lane

Stoke Road Swardeston Lane Caistor Lane

Mangreen Lane Swardeston Mangreen Dunston

Stoke Lane d

Norwich Road a The Ridings

o

R

r

e l Intwood Lane

d Stoke Road

n

a

h C Rectory Road Catbridge Lane Potters Way

Wood Lane

A140 Stoke Holy Cross

Scotts Hill B1113 Mill Road Hickling Lane Long Lane

Carr Lane Carr Spong Lane Stoke Lane

The Common Gowthorpe Lane

East Carleton Road

d

a o

Church Road R

h

c

i

w r

Swainsthorpe o The Common N Rectory Lane

Brickle Road Mulbarton Abbot's Lane Shotesham Road

e

n

Shotesham Road

a

L

g

n

Cuckoofield Lane o B1113 L The Rosery

Leafyoak Lane

Shotesham Road Bracon Ash Tas Brickkiln Lane

Long Lane Traffic and transport Next steps We are currently gathering baseline traffic flow and road safety data to inform our assessment work. We are also working with Norfolk County Council We are currently in the process of undertaking a wide range of environmental and Highways England to establish a construction traffic routing strategy assessment work, the outcomes of which will be presented in our Preliminary which will be submitted as part of the DCO application. Environmental Information Report (PEIR), which we will invite feedback on during our phase two consultation. A summary of ongoing studies is presented The objective is to deliver SEP and DEP in the most efficient way possible, below. whilst reducing construction vehicle movements, avoiding sensitive locations, and minimising impacts on the local road network. This will also take into Ongoing Studies account other planned developments in the area.

We recognise that construction traffic is a key concern for local communities Onshore and offshore ecology and any feedback received at phase two consultation will be valuable in We have almost completed the first phase of ecological surveys, which have helping to refine our traffic routing strategy. collected baseline data about the habitats and species within the SEP and DEP onshore study area. All offshore ecology baseline surveys, including offshore ornithology, marine mammals and benthic ecology were completed in 2020, Local archaeology which concluded a two-year survey program. These results, alongside our We are nearing completion of the onshore geophysical surveys that are survey of shipping and navigation, will be presented in our PEIR. being undertaken to investigate the archaeological potential within the onshore study area. The results of the surveys, along with other desk-based The second round of wintering bird surveys are underway and further surveys information will be presented in our PEIR. for species such as breeding birds, bats and aquatic mammals will commence in spring 2021. The data will be used alongside feedback from the phase two consultation to refine the onshore cable corridor, avoiding where possible any areas of high We are also working with stakeholders including Natural England and local archaeological importance. wildlife groups to identify opportunities to deliver biodiversity net gain for the onshore elements of SEP and DEP. Electric and magnetic fields (EMF) We will be undertaking an EMF study to assess project specific EMFs along Landscape and visual impact the onshore cable corridor. The study will assess the potential worst-case Both a Landscape Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) and Seascape Visual strength of EMFs, which will be applicable to all areas along the onshore Impact Assessment (SVIA) will be included in our PEIR. The assessments cable corridor. will consider the potential visual effects of SEP and DEP from a number of viewpoints, which have been agreed with the relevant local authorities and The purpose of this study is to demonstrate compliance with the relevant UK other stakeholders. and international EMF standard rules and regulations.

As part of our phase two consultation, we will also be producing indicative These calculations will be performed by National Grid in accordance with visualisations of the onshore substation and the offshore wind turbines from key relevant standards to provide impartial, accurate and reliable analysis. viewpoints on the North Norfolk coast.

12 13 Phase two Stay informed

consultation Community Liaison Officer Once we have finalised our PEIR, we will be All our communication channels overleaf remain open holding a consultation and asking for your for you to get in touch and ask any questions. You can feedback on the information provided. also contact our Community Liaison Officer (CLO), Nigel Tompkins, who is based locally and available to We currently intend to hold this in spring 2021. answer any questions about SEP and DEP. Due to government advice and restrictions on public gatherings owing to COVID-19, this Should you wish to speak to Nigel or meet with him, consultation will be delivered without face-to- please contact him using the details below: face events. However, we will provide a range

of engagement options, as published in our Email: [email protected] Statement of Community Consultation (SoCC).

If it becomes possible to hold some face-to-face Telephone: 01263 822427 or 07860 206565 events, we will consult with the relevant local planning authorities and these will be publicised accordingly in local media and by other means. Landowner interests We will distribute consultation leaflets to all properties within our Core Consultation Zone If you are a landowner, have an interest in any of the land which interacts with (of over 11,000 properties) prior to our phase our proposals, or if you have any questions relating to land interests in the two consultation, detailing the consultation dates area, please contact the SEP and DEP Land Team at Dalcour Maclaren by: and how to get involved. We will also advertise our consultation locally via local newspaper Calling: 01869 352725 advertisements and posters at Local Information Points (LIPs). Emailing: [email protected] In the meantime, we will be continuing engagement with all stakeholders, including parish, district, and county councillors. This Alternatively, you can write to Simon Hinchliffe or Rhiannon Price at: includes holding a series of stakeholder forums Dalcour Maclaren, 1 Staplehurst Farm, Weston on the Green, with parish councils to discuss the latest Oxfordshire, OX25 3QU proposals.

14 15 Contact us

You can get in touch with our community relations team at any time by any of the methods below:

Send us an email: [email protected]

Call our Freephone information line: 08081 963 673

Visit our website: sepanddep.commonplace.is

Send us a letter: FREEPOST DUDGEON AND SHERINGHAM EXT

Should you require this document in large print, audio or braille then please contact us using the details provided.

This document was sent in compliance with GDPR regulations. Your personal data will be stored in compliance with GDPR by Equinor and will not be shared with third parties. Your details may however be passed on to the Planning Inspectorate to ensure that our pre-application consultation is sufficient and in line with the planning process. We are available to answer any questions regarding GDPR compliance through the contact details above.

Follow us on Twitter: @Equinor_UK #SEPandDEP

All image and graphics for illustrative purposes only. For all sources please visit our website or contact a member of our team. This has been printed on FSC certified paper. 16