Waveney MP Peter Aldous welcomes today’s news that East Anglia ONE Offshore Wind Farm has received planning consent.  It is the largest Round 3 Offshore Wind project to be consented in the UK and the first to be consented in English and Welsh waters.

 

East Anglia One Offshore Wind , a joint venture between ScottishPower Renewables and Vattenfall, has today received consent from the Department for Energy & Climate Change for a 1200MW offshore windfarm off the coast of East Anglia, the largest renewable energy project ever to receive planning consent in England and Wales.

 

According to the company, the planned development is for up to 240 wind turbines to be installed across an area of 300km2 in the southern North Sea and could power the annual electricity demands of around 820,000 homes.

 

It is anticipated that the development, the first of six potential projects in the East Anglia Zone, could support up to 2,700 jobs across the UK during the construction phase, representing more than £170m for the UK economy for each year of construction. More than 1,600 construction jobs could be supported in the East Anglia region alone, adding over £100m to the regional economy annually during construction.

 

ScottishPower Renewables and Vattenfall expect that up to 170 engineers and technicians would be required to provide operations and maintenance support for the project once completed. These jobs could be required for more than 20 years , potentially adding over £10m to the local economy on an annual basis.In total, for the three years of construction and 20-plus years of operation for East Anglia ONE the region's economy could be boosted by £500m and see nearly 1,800 jobs supported or secured.

 

Mr. Aldous commented:  “This approval is extremely good news as the East Anglia One wind farm is the largest renewable energy project ever to receive planning consent in England and Wales. As such it provides a great opportunity to bring new jobs to both the Waveney area and East Anglia, as Lowestoft has the strategic advantage of being the nearest port to the wind farm. 

 

"The Enterprise Zones in Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth and the designation of the two ports as a “Centre of Offshore Renewable Energy”, as well as their inclusion on the Assisted Area Map for 2014 to 2020 means that our area is well placed to make the most of this opportunity. 

 

"It is also important that local people are given every opportunity to acquire the necessary skills to take up the jobs that will be created over a 20 plus year period and that the necessary investment is made in infrastructure, particularly the roads both to and around Lowestoft and also flood defences.

 

"In the coming weeks I shall be working with East Anglia Offshore Wind, local businesses and Government to do all that I can to ensure that we make the most of this great opportunity for Lowestoft and East Anglia.”