Planning Application for proposed Awel y Mȏr Offshore Windfarm, approximately 10km off the coast of North Wales
In accordance with the provisions of the 1991 United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (“the Espoo Convention”), the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage received notification from the UK Planning Inspectorate (“PINS”) in relation to a development consent application (“the planning application”) by Awel y Mȏr Offshore Wind Farm Limited. Awel y Mȏr Offshore Wind Farm is a project being developed by RWE Renewables (RWE) to the west of the existing Gwynt y Mȏr Offshore Wind Farm. It is located approximately 10km off the Welsh coast in the Irish Sea, with maximum total area of 88km and will comprise up to 91 wind turbine generators.
The proposed development will be comprised of (but not limited to): an offshore wind farm, including wind turbine generators and associated foundations, wind measurement equipment and array cables; transmission infrastructure, including offshore substations and associated foundations, offshore and onshore export cables (underground), including associated transition bays and jointing bays, an onshore substation, and connection infrastructure into the National Grid.
The proposed development has been identified as a project within the scope of paragraph 2 of Appendix 1 to the Espoo Convention as implemented by the Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 (“the EIA Regulations”) (UK legislation).
Consequently, the Secretary of State conducted a transboundary EIA screening. This screening exercise determined that the proposed development may have transboundary environmental impacts in this State. The transboundary issues screened in include impacts on fish and shellfish, marine mammals and sea birds, and commercial shipping. The screening assessment is available at:
A nationwide public consultation will open for submissions on Friday 30th September 2022. A member of the public may make a written submission or observations in relation to the potential transboundary environmental effects of the project, by close of business on Friday 4th November 2022 at the latest. Submissions or observations should be made to:
AwelyMor@planninginspectorate.gov.uk
Members of the public may wish to visit the Dublin City Council public consultation portal at the link below to view correspondence from the UK’s PINS, digital copies of extracts from the applicant’s Environmental Statement; associated documents and links provided by the UK’s PINS to the full Environmental Statement and all other documentation relating to the development consent application for the proposed development.
https://consultation.dublincity.ie/planning/awel-y-mor-offshore-windfarm
The public consultation notice is also available to view in the office of the Planning Section of each planning authority nationwide during office hours, by appointment if required. A copy of these documents is available for inspection, or purchase at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, during office hours at the office of each planning authority nationwide. Links to all documents will be made available online by each Local Authority please contact your Local Authority for further details.
Due to social distancing measures introduced in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, viewing may be by appointment only in certain local authority offices. It is strongly advised to contact your local authority to clarify the position in this regard before travelling to view the documentation. All documentation related to the development consent application for the proposed development is also available to view on the website of the UK’s PINs, including any additional information accepted by the UK’s PINS at:
Due to the voluminous nature of an application for development at this scale, the Applicant has also produced a ‘Guide to the Application’, summarising the structure of the application for development consent for the Proposed Development. This document is available from:
