The UK Planning Inspectorate is hosting issue-specific hearings on the Thanet Extension offshore wind project this month as part of Vattenfall’s application for an order granting development consent.
The hearings will take place between 19 and 21 February at the Discovery Park in Sandwich, Kent, with the Accompanied Site Inspection (ASI) scheduled for 18 February.
The topics to be covered include environmental matters, physical construction, landscape and visual issues, maritime issues, fishing and fisheries, as well as the draft Development Consent Order (dDCO).
Vattenfall submitted the application for the DCO in June last year, for which the Planning Inspectorate appointed an Examining Authority four months later.
The Secretary of State is expected to decide on the application by the middle of this year. If approved, Thanet Extension will extend the existing 300MW Thanet offshore wind farm.
The proposed wind farm will consist of up to 34 turbines located 8km offshore Kent, potentially doubling the output of the existing 100-turbine wind farm with more powerful machines.