UK delays planning decision for Vattenfall Norfolk Vanguard offshore wind farm

Update: UK rejects Vattenfall's Thanet Extension wind farm application

The UK's Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy has announced that it will delay the decision on planning consent for the Norfolk Vanguard offshore wind farm until July 1.

The decision was supposed to be announced June 1, after previously being pushed back from December 2019.

Proposed by Swedish energy company Vattenfall, the 1.8 GW Norfolk Vanguard offshore wind farm would comprise of between 90 and 180 wind turbines that could power 1.95 million UK homes per year.

Commenting on the delay, Danielle Lane, UK manager for Vattenfall, said: "Norfolk Vanguard is one of the most innovative and ambitious offshore wind projects in the world. Yet this is now the second time it has suffered a delay, despite addressing all of the major concerns raised during the planning process."

"We're in a race against time to reduce emissions and need to respond to the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, yet crucial infrastructure decisions are being put on hold," she added.

Trade association RenewableUK expressed disappointment at the delay, with the planning decision on Danish energy company Orsted's 2.4 GW Hornsea Three project on England's east coast also pushed back to July 1.

RenewableUK Chief Executive Hugh McNeal said: "Any delay in the decision-making process is disappointing. We want to work with government to achieve their ambition of 40 GW of offshore wind by 2030 and the UK's wider net zero target."

"Major projects like these are vital to generate clean power on the scale we need to decarbonise our economy. We need the Government to take decisions in a timely manner so that offshore wind can play a leading role in getting our economy back on track after the coronavirus crisis."