RAMPION 2 OFFSHORE WIND FARM DEVELOPMENT CONSENT ORDER

THIS NOTICE SUPERSEDES THE PREVIOUS NOTICE PUBLISHED IN THIS PAPER ON 20 SEPTEMBER 2023. PLEASE NOTE THE NEW DEADLINE OF 6 NOVEMBER FOR RELEVANT REPRESENTATIONS.

NOTICE OF ACCEPTANCE OF AN APPLICATION

FOR A DEVELOPMENT CONSENT ORDER BY THE PLANNING INSPECTORATE (ON BEHALF OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR ENERGY SECURITY AND NET ZERO) UNDER SECTION 56 OF THE PLANNING ACT 2008

RAMPION 2 OFFSHORE WIND FARM

DEVELOPMENT CONSENT ORDER

REGULATION 9 OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING (APPLICATIONS: PRESCRIBED FORMS AND PROCEDURE) REGULATIONS 2009 (AS AMENDED)

REGULATION 16 OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING (ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT) REGULATIONS 2017 (AS AMENDED)

Notice is hereby given that the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (“the Secretary of State”) has accepted an application by Rampion Extension Development Limited of Windmill Hill Business Park, Whitehill Way, Swindon, Wiltshire, England, SN5 6PB (“the Applicant”) for a Development Consent Order (“DCO”) under the Planning Act 2008. The Application (Reference No. EN010117) was submitted by the Applicant to the Secretary of State c/o the Planning Inspectorate under section 37 of the Planning Act 2008 on 10 August 2023 and was accepted on 7^th September 2023 (“the Application”).

Summary of the Project

The Applicant is seeking development consent for an offshore generating station adjacent to and forming an extension to the existing Rampion Offshore Wind Farm, at the location approximately 13km south of the Sussex coast located to the west and south of the existing Rampion Offshore Windfarm, and all infrastructure required to transmit the power generated to the Bolney National Grid substation, which will require to be extended (the “Proposed Development”). The offshore generating station is located in an area approximately 196km2. The onshore cable corridor is approximately 38.8km long from the landfall at Climping, West Sussex to a new substation at Oakendene, 2km east of Cowfold, West Sussex and then to the existing Bolney National Grid Substation, at Twineham, Mid Sussex. The onshore elements of the Proposed Development fall within the administrative boundaries of the following host authorities: 

• Arun District Council;
• Horsham District Council;
• Mid Sussex District Council (MSDC);
• South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA); and
• West Sussex County Council (WSCC).

   

  In summary the Proposed Development includes:

   

• an offshore generating station with an electrical export capacity of in excess of 100MW comprising up to 90 wind turbines and array cables, in an area approximately 196km2, located approximately 13km south of the Sussex coast located to the west and south of the existing Rampion Offshore Windfarm
• up to three offshore substations
• cables between the wind turbine generators (“WTG”), between the WTGs and the offshore substations, and between the offshore substations themselves and the landfall location at Climping, West Sussex
• an underground cable connection between the landfall, and a satellite substation known as Oakendene, and then onwards to connect into the existing National Grid substation at Bolney, together with an extension to that existing substation.

The Proposed Development comprises a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (“NSIP”) pursuant to sections 14(1)(a) and 15(3) of the 2008 Act as an offshore generating station having a capacity of more than 100MW. Pursuant to section 31 of the 2008 Act a DCO is required to authorise an NSIP.

The Proposed Development also includes associated development linked to the NSIP which can be authorised by a DCO pursuant to section 115 of the 2008 Act.

The Development Consent Order would authorise the compulsory acquisition of land, interests in land and rights over land, and the powers to use land permanently and temporarily.

Environmental Impact Assessment Development:

The Project constitutes environmental impact assessment development for the purposes of the Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 and accordingly an Environmental Statement accompanies the Application.

Application form and accompanying documents:

The Application form and the accompanying documents, plans, maps and Environmental

Statement (ES) and Non-Technical Summary (NTS) can be viewed and downloaded free of charge online on the Rampion 2 Offshore Wind Farm project page of the Planning Inspectorate’s National Infrastructure Planning website under the documents tab:

https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/south-east/rampion-2-offshore-wind-farm/?ipcsection=docs

The documents will be available on the Planning Inspectorate’s National Infrastructure Planning website throughout the examination period. The link to the Application documents listed on the PINS website can also be found on the Applicant’s website at https://rampion2.com/.

Copies of the Application documents may also be purchased from the Applicant’s Project Team using the contact details at the end of this notice. Copies of the suite of application documents can be obtained for a charge of £3,500 (plus postage) for hard copies. On request, a USB containing these documents will be provided for a charge of £8.95. Copies of individual documents are also available on request and a charge may apply.

For enquiries in relation to the Application form and its accompanying documents, plans and maps, the Applicant’s Project Team can be contacted via email: rampion2@rwe.com or telephone: 0800 2800 886.

Electronic copies of the materials may also be inspected on computers accessible to the public at the following libraries from Wednesday 20th September to Monday 6^th November 2023. Please contact these locations to confirm opening times and availability of the documents:

Representations:

Any representations (giving notice of any interest in, or objection to, the Application) must be made on the Planning Inspectorate’s Registration and Relevant Representation Form. The Registration and Relevant Representation Form will be made available online by the Planning Inspectorate once the registration/representation period has opened on the Rampion 2 Offshore Wind Farm project page on the National Infrastructure Planning website:                                                                                               https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/south-east/rampion-2-offshore-wind-farm/?ipcsection=overview

If you would like to request a hard copy of the Planning Inspectorate’s Registration and Relevant Representation Form, please telephone 0303 444 5000.  Completed forms should be sent to The Planning Inspectorate, National Infrastructure Directorate, Temple Quay House, Temple Quay, Bristol BS1 6PN. The Planning Inspectorate reference for the Application (EN010117) should be quoted in any correspondence.

The Planning Inspectorate’s Advice Notice 8.2: How to register to participate in an Examination, provides further guidance on how to register and make a relevant representation (December 2016) and can be accessed via the following link: https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/legislation-and-advice/advice-notes/advice-note-8-2-how-to-register-to-participate-in-an-examination/

The period for submitting relevant representations will commence on Wednesday 20^th September 2023 and will end at 11.59pm on Monday 6^th November 2023. 

In submitting a representation, it should be noted that personal data and correspondence relating to any representation will be made publicly available.  If you do not wish personal data to be made publicly available, you should state why when submitting the representation. The Planning Inspectorate will publish the representations with your name removed, however, may give them less weight during the Examination as a result.