London Array gets the go-ahead to build electricity transmission works

9 November 2007

The government has finally given permission to the consortium developing the London Array to start building electricity transmission works for the project. The Array project almost hit the buffers earlier in the year when Swale Borough Council refused planning permission for the proposed onshore electricity substation at Cleve Hill. Thankfully this block has now been overturned.

When built the 1,000MW London Array will be one of the largest offshore wind farms in the world Consisting of up to 341 wind turbines it will be able to generate enough electricity to power a quarter of all homes in London (equivalent to almost a tenth of the Government's target for 10 per cent of our electricity to come from renewable sources by 2010). It will also avoid the emission of millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide over its life.

London Array received planning permission for its offshore works in December 2006 and in August this year the govenment supported the Planning Inspector's recommendation for permission to be given for the construction of an onshore substation.

Project Director Andrew Murfin, said: "This is great news and is another significant step towards the development of this flagship project for the UK.

"As the Government looks to tackle the twin issues of security of supply and climate change, it is clear that renewable projects of the scale of London Array will become more and more important to the UK. Now that these important consents are in place, we are focused on the tendering necessary for the first phase of this project, the results of which will determine whether the project economics and schedule are acceptable. Timely enactment by the Government of their proposed changes to the Renewables Obligation legislation to promote offshore wind power is another key factor necessary for the success of this project."