A consent application and accompanying environmental statement (ES) for the up to 1.5GW Atlantic Array offshore wind farm, planned for the Bristol Channel, has been delayed by several months.
Submission of an application was originally scheduled for next month, but is now planned for "spring 2013", according to project developer, RWE npower renewables.
Like other UK offshore wind developers that have recently delayed consent application or other permitting milestones – including E.ON and an EDF/Eneco joint venture – RWE has explained that it wants "to give full consideration" to the significant volume of feedback it received during recent public consultation.
Earlier this year, “uåX˜äŠÊ˜·³Ç Offshore reported on controversy about the potential impact of the project on sea views from the north Devon and south Wales coasts.
“uåX˜äŠÊ˜·³Ç Offshore has also learned that the development manager for Atlantic Array, Rob Thornhill, no longer works for the developer. Thornhill left his post earlier this month and has been replaced by Craig Harwood.
Commenting on the revised schedule, Harwood points out that several important stakeholders provided feedback later than expected: "The latest consultation period closed on August 31 this year, but we received a number of responses from statutory bodies, interested parties and the public after this date".
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