Lancashire farmers and landowners in Wyre and Preston could soon feel the real cost and disruption of the drive towards net zero and renewable energy sources.

Ørsted, a multi-national energy company are wishing to construct the East Irish Sea Transmission project, which involves connecting off the new Mooir Vannin Offshore Wind Farm to the UK mainland Power Grid system. The wind farm will be capable of generating enough energy to power over 1.4 million UK homes by its estimated operational date of 2032-2033.

This Ørsted project is at the early stages, but they have just announced that they are going to progress an application making landfall at Fleetwood and travelling South to Penwortham substation. The chosen Northern Route will potentially affect areas such as Fleetwood and then travels under the River Wyre coming up between Stalmine and Hambleton, through the parishes of Out Rawcliffe, Great Eccleston, Inskip, Catforth, Lea and then under or over the River Ribble to Penwortham.

The route will potentially require a new large-scale substation to be built and to give an indication of the scale of the project, the temporary working width they require whilst laying the cables is 120metres wide. Imagine this work area through your farm – the level of disruption and impact is going to be significant!

Early into the new year they will begin to prepare a development consent application, there will be various access requests for surveys; some of these will include digging bore holes and trenches with an intended planning application towards the end of 2027. Potential construction could start circa 2029.

These projects are Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP) designated under the Planning Act 2008, which means they could have compulsory powers of entry, if required. However, it is vital that if you are affected, you seek professional representation at a very early stage to ensure that your rights are protected, your compensation maximised and the potential impact minimised. The project has to cover your reasonable professional costs.

For further details contact one of the experienced Armitstead Barnett Land Agent team

Richard Furnival, Simon Wells, Megan Metcalfe