Dudgeon Offshore Wind makes Compulsory Purchase Order over land in Norfolk
Dudgeon Offshore Wind Limited made on the 17th October 2013 the Dudgeon Offshore Wind Limited (No.1) Compulsory Purchase Order 2013 [under section 10 and paragraph 1 of Schedule 3 to the Electricity Act 1989]. The Order is now being submitted to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change for confirmation.
If confirmed, the order will authorise Dudgeon Offshore Wind Limited to purchase compulsorily the new rights over land in Norfolk at Croxton, Kettlestone, Great Ryburgh, Little Ryburgh and Gateley for the purpose of installing 48 kms of underground onshore cable and ancillary equipment. This is needed to transmit the electricity produced by the Dudgeon Offshore Wind farm from Weybourne in North Norfolk to Necton in Breckland where an onshore substation will be constructed to facilitate a connection to the National Grid network.
Discussions have been taking place with the 44 landowners under whose land the cable needs to be buried since planning consent for this onshore cable was granted by North Norfolk District Council and Breckland Council last year. Whilst Option Agreements to undertake this installation work during 2014/15 have been reached with almost all of the landowners, it has not been possible to agree terms with them all, and Dudgeon Offshore Wind has made this Compulsory Purchase Order as a last resort.
Notices regarding this Compulsory Purchase Order will be erected along the public highways and footpaths closest to the affected land.
Kari Hege Mørk, the Stakeholder Manager for the Dudgeon Offshore Wind Farm project, stressed that whilst she and her colleagues intended to try and continue to reach agreement with the remaining landowners, time is now running out:
"For the Dudgeon Offshore Wind Farm to generate first power to the National Grid in 2017, installation of the onshore cables has to start in 2014. Our aim has always been to seek agreement on acceptable terms with all the landowners, but unfortunately such agreement has not been reached with a few of these landowners. To ensure that we are able to meet the project’s critical timeline, we have now had to make this Order."
"The onshore cable will be buried at least one metre underground, and the land will be re-instated to its original condition once the installation is complete. Our aim is to minimise disruption as far as possible to all those parties affected by this installation, and it has therefore always been important for us to seek mutual agreement with all landowners."
This wind farm will generate sufficient electricity to power over 300,000 UK homes each year.
Issue date: 21-10-13