The Walney Extension Offshore Wind Farm Order 2014

1.  A nationally significant infrastructure project as defined in sections 14 and 15 of the 2008 Act on the bed of the Irish Sea approximately 19 kilometres off the Isle of Walney coast and partly within the Renewable Energy Zone, comprising— E+W

• Work No. 1 –

  (a)

  an offshore wind turbine generating station with a gross electrical output capacity of up to 750MW comprising up to 207 wind turbine generators with rotating blades, each fixed to the seabed by one of two foundation types, namely monopile foundation or jacket structure (in conjunction with suction caissons or steel piles), and situated within the coordinates for the Order limits seaward of MHWS and further comprising (b) below;

  (b)

  a network of subsea inter-array cables laid within the Order limits seaward of MHWS between the WTGs and Work No. 2(a), for the transmission of electricity and electronic communications between these different structures, including up to twenty cable crossings;

  and associated development within the meaning of section 115(2) of the 2008 Act comprising—

• Work No. 2 –

  (a)

  up to three offshore substation platforms fixed to the seabed within the Order limits seaward of MHWS by one of two foundation types, namely [F1 monopile] foundations or jacket structure (in conjunction with suction caissons or steel piles), and further comprising (b) below;

  (b)

  offshore connection works consisting of up to five export cable systems between Work No. 2(a) and Work No. 3A for the transmission of electricity and electronic communications each consisting of a single subsea cable and one cable duct laid along routes within the Order limits seaward of MHWS;

• Work No. 3A – offshore connection works consisting of up to five export cable systems between Work No. 2 and Work No. 3B for the transmission of electricity and electronic communications each consisting of a single subsea cable and one cable duct laid along routes within the Order limits seaward of MHWS, including up to seventy cable crossings;

• In the county of Lancashire, district of City of Lancaster

  Work No. 3B – onshore connection works consisting of up to five export cable systems for the transmission of electricity and electronic communications each consisting of a single subsea cable and one cable duct laid underground from MLW at Middleton Sands to Work No. 6, together with a new temporary access track and a new temporary horizontal directional drilling compound to the west of the saltmarsh, and a new temporary construction working site and a new temporary access track between the existing sea defence and Work No. 6;

• Work No. 4 – a new temporary vehicular access track to the south east of Potts Corner and between Work No. 3B and Work No. 5;

• Work No. 5 – modifications to and upgrading of an existing vehicular access track running in a north westerly direction from Work No. 4 to the adopted highway on Carr Lane, together with modifications to the junction of the upgraded vehicular access track and the adopted highway at Carr Lane;

• Work No. 6 – onshore connection works located to the north east of the existing sea defence consisting of—

  (a)

  up to five export cable systems for the transmission of electricity and electronic communications connecting Work No. 3B to Work No. 8 each consisting of—

  (i)

  a single subsea cable and one cable duct; or

  (ii)

  three onshore cables and three cable ducts, and up to two fibre optic cables and up to two fibre optic cable ducts;

  (b)

  up to five transition joint bays;

  (c)

  up to ten pits for the fibre optic joints and link boxes with associated cables;

  (d)

  a new temporary horizontal directional drilling compound;

  (e)

  a new temporary construction working site; and

  (f)

  a new temporary access track;

• Work No. 7 – a new temporary construction working site and a new temporary access track to the north east of the existing sea defence and adjoining Work No. 3B and Work No. 6 and Work No. 8;

• Work No. 8 – onshore connection works consisting of up to five export cable systems for the transmission of electricity and electronic communications connecting Work No. 6 to Work No. 12, passing through an existing access track to Middleton Lake, each consisting of three onshore cables and three cable ducts, as well as up to two fibre optic cables and up to two fibre optic cable ducts, and up to ten cable jointing bays, and up to ten pits for the fibre optic joints and link boxes, with associated cables, laid underground, together with new temporary construction working sites and a new temporary vehicular access track;

• Work No. 9 – a new temporary vehicular access running from a point on Carr Lane south of Middle Brows in an easterly direction to the point at which Work No. 9 abuts Work No. 11 and another new temporary vehicular access running in a southerly direction and then south easterly direction from that point to Work No. 8 at a point north east of Work No. 6, including new temporary construction working sites and modifications to the adopted highway on Carr Lane to create a new temporary junction with the temporary access track;

• Work No. 10 – a new temporary vehicular access running from a point on Carr Lane north of Middle Brows in a southerly direction to the point at which Work No. 10 abuts Work No. 9, including new temporary construction working sites and modifications to the adopted highway on Carr Lane to create a new temporary junction with the temporary access track;

• Work No. 11 – a new temporary vehicular access running in an easterly direction from the point at which Work No. 9 abuts Work No. 11 to the point at which Work No. 11 abuts Work No. 8, including new temporary construction working sites;

• Work No. 12 – onshore connection works consisting of up to five export cable systems for the transmission of electricity and electronic communications connecting Work No. 8 to Work No. 13, passing through Trunk Dyke West and an existing public right of way known as Footpath (3) located to the west of Marsh Lea Farm, each consisting of three onshore cables and three cable ducts, as well as up to two fibre optic cables and up to two fibre optic cable ducts, and up to ten cable jointing bays, and up to ten pits for the fibre optic joints and link boxes, with associated cables, laid underground, together with new temporary construction working sites and a new temporary vehicular access track;

• Work No. 13 – onshore connection works consisting of up to five export cable systems for the transmission of electricity and electronic communications running from Work No. 12 passing through the existing access track to the north of Marsh Lea Farm and then in a north easterly direction, passing through Trunk Dyke East and an existing public right of way known as Footpath (1), and then in a northerly direction, passing through an existing public right of way known as Footpath (5), and continuing to Work No. 14, each consisting of three onshore cables and three cable ducts, as well as up to two fibre optic cables and up to two fibre optic cable ducts, and up to ten cable jointing bays, and up to ten pits for the fibre optic joints and link boxes, with associated cables, laid underground, together with new temporary construction working site and a new temporary vehicular access track;

• Work No. 14 – onshore connection works consisting of up to five export cable systems for the transmission of electricity and electronic communications running from Work No. 13 passing through land known as Middleton Playing Fields and then through Middleton Road to Work No. 15, each consisting of three onshore cables and three cable ducts, as well as up to two fibre optic cables and up to two fibre optic cable ducts, and up to ten cable jointing bays, and up to ten pits for the fibre optic joints and link boxes, with associated cables, laid underground, together with new temporary construction working sites and a new temporary horizontal directional drilling compound and a new temporary vehicular access track, and modifications to the adopted highway on Middleton Road to create a new temporary junction with the new temporary access track to the south of Middleton Road;

• Work No. 15 – onshore connection works consisting of up to five export cable systems for the transmission of electricity and electronic communications running from Work No. 14 at a point adjacent to Middleton Road in a north westerly direction to Work No. 18 each consisting of three onshore cables and three cable ducts, as well as up to two fibre optic cables and up to two fibre optic cable ducts, and up to ten cable jointing bays, and up to ten pits for the fibre optic joints and link boxes, with associated cables, laid underground, together with new temporary construction working sites and a new temporary horizontal directional drilling compound and a new temporary vehicular access track, and modifications to the adopted highway on Middleton Road to create a new temporary junction with the temporary access track to the north of Middleton Road;

• Work No. 16 – a new temporary construction working site and a new temporary vehicular access track to the north of Middleton Road and adjoining Work No. 15;

• Work No. 17 – a new temporary construction working site to the east of Middleton Business Park and adjoining Work No. 15;

• Work No. 18 – onshore connection works consisting of up to five export cable systems for the transmission of electricity and electronic communications running from Work No. 15 in a northerly direction to Work No. 22 each consisting of three onshore cables and three cable ducts, as well as up to two fibre optic cables and up to two fibre optic cable ducts, and up to ten cable jointing bays, and up to ten pits for the fibre optic joints and link boxes, with associated cables, laid underground, together with a new temporary horizontal directional drilling compound and new temporary construction working sites and new temporary vehicular access tracks, to the south of the A683 Heysham – Morecambe Bypass;

• Work No. 19 – modifications to Imperial Road to create a new temporary access to and junction with the new temporary vehicular access tracks comprised in Work No. 18;

• Work No. 20 – a new temporary vehicular access track from Work No. 18 running in an easterly direction to Work No. 21;

• Work No. 21 – a new temporary vehicular access track running in a northerly direction from Work No. 20 to the adopted highway of the A683 Heysham – Morecambe Bypass, together with modifications to the A683 Heysham – Morecambe Bypass to create a new junction with the new temporary vehicular access track;

• Work No. 22 – onshore connection works consisting of up to five export cable systems for the transmission of electricity and electronic communications running from Work No. 18 in a northerly direction passing through the A683 Heysham – Morecambe Bypass to Work No. 23, each consisting of three onshore cables and three cable ducts, as well as up to two fibre optic cables and up to two fibre optic cable ducts, laid underground;

• Work No. 23 – onshore connection works consisting of up to five export cable systems for the transmission of electricity and electronic communications running from Work No. 22 to Work No. 25, each consisting of three onshore cables and three cable ducts, as well as up to two fibre optic cables and up to two fibre optic cable ducts, and up to ten cable jointing bays, and up to ten pits for the fibre optic joints and link boxes, with associated cables, laid underground, together with landscaping and a new temporary horizontal directional drilling compound and new temporary construction working sites and a new temporary vehicular access track, to the north of the A683 Heysham – Morecambe Bypass;

• Work No. 24 – a new temporary construction working site and a new temporary vehicular access track to the north of the A683 Heysham – Morecambe Bypass and adjoining Work No. 23 and Work No. 25;

• Work No. 25 – an electrical substation compound and adjoining apparatus and facilities including (but not limited to) offices, administration and services facilities, security accommodation, parking areas, private access road, hardstanding and landscaping to the north of the A683 Heysham – Morecambe Bypass;

• Work No. 26 – onshore connection works consisting of up to two 400kV export cable systems for the transmission of electricity and electronic communications running from the new electrical substation compound at Work No. 25 in a north westerly direction to Work No. 27, each consisting of three onshore cables and three cable ducts, as well as up to two fibre optic cables and up to two fibre optic cable ducts, laid underground, together with a new temporary construction working site to the north west of Work No. 23, landscaping, and a new permanent vehicular access road between Work No. 25 and the roundabout at the junction of the A683 Heysham – Morecambe Bypass and Imperial Road and modifications to that roundabout to create a new junction with the new permanent vehicular access road;

• Work No. 27 – onshore connection works consisting of up to two 400kV export cable systems for the transmission of electricity and electronic communications running from Work No. 26 in a north westerly direction to a new National Grid substation to the north west of the junction of the A683 Heysham – Morecambe Bypass and Imperial Road, each consisting of three onshore cables and three cable ducts, as well as up to two fibre optic cables and up to two fibre optic cable ducts, laid underground, together with landscaping, and a new temporary construction working site and a new temporary vehicular access track to the north west of Work No. 26;

  and in connection with such Work Nos. 1 to 3A and to the extent that they do not otherwise form part of any such work, further associated development comprising such other works as may be necessary or expedient for the purposes of or in connection with the relevant part of the authorised development and which fall within the scope of the work assessed by the environmental statement, including—

  (a)

  scour protection around the foundations of the offshore structures;

  (b)

  cable protection measures such as the placement of rock and/or concrete mattresses, with or without frond devices; and

  (c)

  the removal of material from the seabed required for the construction of Work Nos. 1 to 3A and the disposal of up to 750,300m³ of inert material of natural origin within the Disposal Site produced during construction drilling and seabed preparation for foundation works;

  and in connection with such Work Nos. 3B to 27 and to the extent that they do not otherwise form part of any such work, further associated development comprising such other works as may be necessary or expedient for the purposes of or in connection with the relevant part of the authorised development and which fall within the scope of the work assessed by the environmental statement, including—

  (d)

  ramps, means of access and footpaths;

  (e)

  bunds, embankments, swales, landscaping, fencing and boundary treatments;

  (f)

  habitat creation;

  (g)

  jointing bays, cable ducts, cable protection, joint protection, manholes, kiosks, marker posts, underground cable marker, tiles and tape, and lighting and other works associated with cable laying;

  (h)

  works for the provision of apparatus including cabling, water supply works, foul drainage provision, surface water management systems and culverting;

  (i)

  works to alter the position of apparatus, including mains, sewers, drains and cables;

  (j)

  works to alter the course of, or otherwise interfere with, non-navigable rivers, streams or watercourses;

  (k)

  landscaping and other works to mitigate any adverse effects of the construction, maintenance or operation of the authorised project;

  (l)

  works for the benefit or protection of land affected by the authorised project;

  (m)

  working sites in connection with the construction of the authorised project, construction lay down areas and compounds, storage compounds and their restoration.

Textual Amendments

F1 Word in Sch. 1 Pt. 1 para. 1 substituted (25.4.2015) by The Walney Extension Offshore Wind Farm (Correction) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/1270), art. 1, Sch.

Commencement Information

I1 Sch. 1 Pt. 1 para. 1 in force at 28.11.2014, see art. 1