UK energy secretary Ed Miliband has granted planning consent to CIP’s 480MW Morecambe wind farm in the Irish Sea.
The 35-turbine array is the fourth UK offshore wind development to reach the milestone this year, following permit nods for RWE’s 1.2GW Rampion 2 in April and JERA Nex bp-EnBW’s 1.5GW Mona and 1.5GW Morgan projects in July and August.
A consent decision for the Round 4 scheme had been due by 18 December after an original deadline of 10 October was extended for officials to request and consult on further information.
The application was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate on 31 May 2024.
Morecambe has a grid connection agreement to tie into the National Grid’s Penwortham substation in Lancashire by the end of June 2029.
It will connect via a joint transmission system with JERA Nex bp’s neighbouring Morgan array, which is subject to a separate DCO application.
The wind farm – which was acquired by CIP from Cobra and Flotation Energy this summer – was eligible to enter this year’s Allocation Round 7.
Holly Cartwright, UK and Ireland co-chief executive for CIP’s offshore wind development arm Copenhagen Offshore Partners, said: “We are delighted with today’s positive decision from the secretary of state, which follows many years of intensive development and engagement.
“It marks a significant milestone in delivering a project that will strengthen the UK’s clean energy future.”
COP executive vice president and head of Europe Keld Bennetsen added: “The positive offshore planning approval represents a major step for Morecambe, and we are ready to progress to the next phase of the project.
“This approval reinforces confidence in our vision for the future of offshore wind in the UK and the region, and it reflects the strong collaboration between our team, regulators and stakeholders.”