SSE Renewables and RWE npower renewables welcomes confirmation by the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) that it has accepted the application for Galloper Wind Farm. The joint venture project is for an up to 504MW offshore wind farm comprising up to 140 turbines off the Suffolk Coast and associated development. The project will now be taken forward for examination.

The IPC has confirmed the acceptance on its website, where the Development Consent Order application will also be published - http://infrastructure.independent.gov.uk/projects/eastern/galloper-offshore-wind-farm/

Printed copies will be made available for public inspection at local authorities and local libraries in due course. Now that the application has been accepted, Galloper Wind Farm Limited (the joint venture between SSE Renewables and RWE npower renewables) will be required to publish notices in local and national newspapers to explain how and when to register interest in the application and make formal representations to the IPC.

The examination and decision making process is expected to take about a year.

Mr Aldous said:

“This is good news at the start of a process which I hope will result in significant benefits to the whole region. Off-shore wind power is a central part of our huge potential for growth in the energy sector and I look forward to working with colleagues at SSE and RWE to do all I can to help.”

Jim Smith, Managing Director of SSE Renewables, said:

“This is an important milestone for the project but is not the end of our engagement with the local community as we will continue to consult and listen to their views. We will ensure that local residents are aware of how they can be involved in the decision making process as the IPC takes our application through to the pre-examination and examination stages.”

“SSE believes that harnessing the power of offshore wind will enable the UK to generate significant amounts of low-carbon electricity from a renewable source and therefore help meet the country’s energy security and climate change objectives.”

Alastair Gill, Head of Offshore Development at RWE npower renewables commented:

“As this is an IPC application our consultation follows a very defined and structured process that had to be reviewed by the Local Planning Authorities upfront. We believe the validation of the application endorses that we delivered our consultation correctly, with a strong emphasis on community engagement"

The application, which was submitted to the IPC on 21 November 2011, is the culmination of several years of collating data, consultation with a range of authorities and organisations and careful consideration of various locations for the onshore works – details of which are included in the Development Consent Order application.