FAQs

The Applicants have undertaken a rigorous and robust route planning and site selection process. The Applicants have set out their approach to offshore and onshore export cable corridor routing within Volume 1, Chapter 4: Site Selection and Consideration of Alternatives (AS-026) and its supporting annexes.

A number of potential grid connection locations and options were considered by the Energy Systems Operator (ESO, now NESO) through the Holistic Network Design process based on the grid infrastructure capacity in relation to the location of the Morgan Offshore Wind Project and Morecambe Offshore Windfarm. This process included the existing Middleton and Stanah (adjacent to the Hillhouse Enterprise Zone) substations, as confirmed to the House of Commons by Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero) on 17 December 2024:

The Electricity System Operator (then ESO, now NESO) assessed connection to the Stanah substation for Irish Sea windfarms alongside other substations in the Northwest and North Wales as part of the Holistic Network Design. ESO identified that Stanah substation would require extension to accommodate the Morgan and Morecambe offshore windfarms. Due to limited space, a new substation would be needed, with associated time and cost. Access was challenging due to residential and recreational surroundings, and there were environmental constraints around Morecambe Bay.

In contrast, Penwortham had a more accessible footprint, fewer constraints, and better electrical connectivity to the wider network.

Routing the offshore export cables within the River Ribble option was specifically considered by the Applicants (Section 4.4.1 of Volume 1, Annex 4.1: Selection and refinement of cable landfall (APP-031)) and discounted for both environmental and technical reasons.

Environmentally, the Ribble estuary intersects with numerous ecological designations protected by UK legislation. These include the Liverpool Bay Special Protection Area (SPA), Ribble and Alt Estuary SPA, the Ribble and Alt Estuary Ramsar site (a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention), and the Ribble Estuary Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Ribble Estuary Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) and Ribble Estuary National Nature Reserve.

From a technical feasibility perspective, the tidal nature, large tidal range and shallow water depths of the estuary create heightened risk to construction as the unstable riverbed conditions are unsuitable for trenching cable laying vessels to access. As such, cabling through the estuary would result in extremely prolonged construction timeframes and potentially risking extensive, long-term damage to sensitive and protected habitats that support smelt and protected bird species (i.e. associated with the statutory designations), whilst also presenting unsafe working conditions during construction.

The Applicants’ identification of a suitable landfall at Lytham St Annes and cable corridor to the National Grid Penwortham substation has minimised interactions and impacts to the protected features of the River Ribble and associated designations.

The Applicants’ approach aligns with the Holistic Network Design’s recommendation which identified the Ribble and Alt Estuary SPA as a constraint to be avoided, resulting in the conclusion that “Minimising impacts on the Ribble and Alt Estuary SPA will require landfall at Blackpool Airport”. The Applicants’ own site selection and routing analysis confirms the Blackpool Airport aligned landfall.

These statutory designations protect sensitive estuarine habitat associated with European smelt (Osmerus eperlanus – a rare and protected species of fish) as well as breeding, passaging and over-wintering bird species listed as of conservation concern. Five relevant species of bird are listed as red and 14 as amber, meaning that these bird populations are threatened and on the decline within the UK. The habitats found within the estuary consist of mudflats, sandflats and saltmarsh habitats that, along with the species listed above, are very sensitive to disturbance from construction activities

The Applicants note that the typical standard width of the temporary construction onshore export cable corridor is 62m for the Morgan project and 38m for Morecambe project. For the 400kV grid connection, the proposed cable corridor is 38m each for both the Morgan and Morecambe projects. These widths include necessary elements such as a haul road for construction access, separate storage areas for topsoil and subsoil, temporary fencing for safety, as well as the trench and required plant machinery, as detailed in Section 3.15.3 of Volume 1, Chapter 3: Project Description (AS-024).

The Applicants followed an iterative route planning and site selection process that led to the identification of the landfall, onshore export cable corridor route and onshore substation sites. This process, outlined in ES Volume 1, Chapter 4: Site Selection and Consideration of Alternatives (AS-026) and ES Volume 1, Annex 4.3: Selection and Refinement of the Onshore Infrastructure (AS-028), progressed through four stages, incorporating feedback at each stage and assessing non-Green Belt alternatives, where feasible. However, given the spatial requirements for the transmission infrastructure and the need to connect to the national electricity transmission network at Penwortham, it was not possible to avoid Green Belt land.

While the onshore substations constitute new buildings, their siting and associated landscape mitigation have been designed to minimise landscape and visual impacts, as much as possible, as set out in sections 4.4 to 4.9 of ES Volume 1, Chapter 4: Site selection and consideration of alternatives (AS-026) and ES Volume 1, Annex 4.3: Selection and Refinement of the Onshore Infrastructure (AS-028). As an integral part of a nationally significant low carbon infrastructure project, the Transmission Assets are considered to be critical national priority (CNP) infrastructure, as set out in paragraph 4.2.4 of NPS EN-1.4.2.5 of NPS EN-1. The Applicants have demonstrated in section 6 of the Planning Statement (APP-233) that the significant benefits of the Transmission Assets, as a result of energy transmission from renewable sources, mean that even if the Transmission Assets were not considered to be CNP, very special circumstances exist which outweigh any harm to Green Belt.

The Applicants acknowledge the potential visual impact of the onshore substations and their location within the existing landscape.

The Applicants’ siting of the onshore substations has sought to minimise their visibility as much as possible by utilising existing screening and maximising the distance from residential areas, wherever possible. The site selection and consideration of alternatives process for the siting of the onshore substations is detailed within Volume 1, Chapter 4: Site Selection and Consideration of Alternatives of the Environmental Statement (AS-026).

Landscaping mitigation at the onshore substations is set out in the Outline Landscape Management Plan (OLMP) (AS-050) and supported by the Outline Design Principles (APP-209). These explain that on-site mitigation planting proposals will be implemented around the onshore substations in order to minimise their visual effect from key viewpoints/receptors and to maximise screening opportunities, while also responding to local landscape character, pattern and growing conditions. The site design will also take account of the opportunities for site won topsoil and subsoil materials to be reused onsite within landscape earthworks ‘bunds’. These bunds will support the visual screening of the onshore substations while having a gradual external slope gradient that appears natural and complements the existing terrain (when looking towards the onshore substations).

The Outline Design Principles (APP-209) sets out the considerations that will inform the detailed design of the permanent works at each of the onshore substations, including their height, layout and maximum footprint. The detailed design of each of the onshore substations will be developed in accordance with the Outline Design Principles, as secured by Requirement 4(2) of Schedule 2A and Schedule 2B of the draft DCO (AS-004). These details will be submitted to and approved by the relevant planning authority prior to start of construction for each of the onshore substations.

Lytham St Annes Dunes SSSI comprises a sand beach which by nature of elevation provides an informal flood defence. There will be no direct impacts to the dunes as a result of the construction of the Transmission Assets. This is because the Lytham St Annes Dunes SSSI will be crossed utilising trenchless techniques. The exit pit on the beach will be situated 100m seaward of the western boundary of Lytham St Annes Dunes SSSI (as set out in CoT44, secured by Requirement 8 of Schedules 2A & 2B, of the draft DCO (AS-004)).

The avoidance of open cut trenching through the Lytham St. Anne’s dunes will ensure there will be no direct loss of vegetation or habitats, and the protected features of the dunes will be preserved.

The Applicants’ assessment of the potential for increased flood risk arising from damage to the existing flood defences, including the sand dunes at Lytham St Annes is presented within section 2.11.4 of Volume 3, Chapter 2: Hydrology and flood risk of the ES (APP-070). This concludes that as a result of the embedded mitigation measures set out above there will be no increase in flood risk as a result of the installation of the offshore export cables.

Volume 3, Chapter 7: Traffic and Transport of the Environmental Statement (APP-108) contains an assessment of the potential impacts from the Transmission Assets on traffic and transport receptors, including the potential impacts of increased vehicle movements (i.e. Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) and staff movements) and potential impacts resulting in congestion. To inform the assessment, the Applicants have undertaken a comprehensive data collection exercise including capturing of baseline traffic flows, speeds, identification of sensitive receptors and collisions for all highway links within Blackpool Council, Lancashire County Council and National Highways administration areas. In total, data for 91 highway links have been collected covering over 155 km of highway network.

The assessment has considered the potential impacts of the Transmission Assets in relation to driver delay, severance, non-motorised user delay, fear and intimidation, road safety and abnormal loads. This includes the consideration of maintenance of access for emergency vehicles and residential access. The assessment concludes (with the application of mitigation measures) that the residual effects would not be significant in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) terms. In addition, the data contained within Volume 1, Chapter 7: Traffic and Transport of the Environmental Statement (APP-108) has informed the interrelated assessments of traffic related noise, air quality and tourism.

Significant commitments have been made to the use of trenchless installation techniques, such as Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) to minimise disruption to all A, B and Classified roads (with the exception of Leach Lane) and railways proposed to be crossed by the Transmission Assets (see CoT02, Volume 1, Annex 5.3: Commitments Register (AS-030)). This commitment to the use of trenchless techniques is secured via Requirement 8 (Code of Construction Practice) of Schedules 2A and 2B of the draft DCO (AS-004).

The Applicants have assessed the potential impacts on air quality in Volume 3, Chapter 9: Air quality (APP-121) and have concluded there will be no significant effects as a result of the construction, operation and maintenance and decommissioning of the Transmission Assets.

The data contained within Volume 3, Chapter 7: Traffic and Transport (APP-108) has informed the assessment of traffic related air quality impacts which are considered within Chapter 9: Air Quality (APP-121). The assessment of construction traffic air pollution has predicted a negligible impact.

Dust emissions will be controlled during the construction phase through the detailed Dust Management Plan(s), which will be developed from the outline Dust Management Plan (APP-195), which form part of the Outline Code of Construction Practice (OCoCP). The detailed CoCP(s) are secured by Requirement 8 of Schedules 2A and 2B of the draft DCO (AS-004). Detailed Dust Management Plan(s) will be implemented as approved by the relevant local planning authorities, in consultation with the relevant statutory stakeholders, as appropriate.

The Applicants have assessed the potential impacts of construction vibration in Volume 3, Chapter 8: Noise and vibration (APP-117). Mitigation measures identified to manage the potential effects of construction vibration such as selection of lower vibration tools and equipment, implementation of task rotation and time limits on activities with high exposure levels, and passive vibration dampening methods (such as dampers, shock mounts for machines, acoustic packing, various foams) will be managed through detailed Construction Noise and Vibration Management Plan(s), which will be developed from the Outline Construction Noise and Vibration Management Plan (APP-196) and which forms part of the Outline CoCP. The detailed CoCP(s) are secured by Requirement 8 of Schedules 2A and 2B of the draft DCO (AS-004).

The mitigation measures will be actively reviewed by the Principal Contractor(s) and the Applicants throughout the construction phase, where necessary, to ensure that they are effective. Detailed Construction Noise and Vibration Management Plan(s) will be implemented by the Applicants as approved by the relevant local planning authorities in consultation with the relevant statutory stakeholders, as appropriate. Methods of communication will be provided in the Communications Plan, an outline of which is provided in the Outline Communications Plan (APP-194). The Outline Communications Plan (APP-194) includes a commitment that all necessary parties (including local residents and businesses) will be informed when construction works will take place, including those that have the potential to generate vibration. Information provided will include information on the general location of the activities, and the expected duration.

Where appropriate construction noise and vibration monitoring may be undertaken at the relevant receptors to ensure the threshold values are not exceeded and notify the principal contractor if exceedances occur.

The Applicants have assessed the potential impacts of both construction and operational noise in Volume 3, Chapter 8: Noise and vibration (APP-117). Mitigation measures identified to manage the potential effects of construction noise will be managed through Construction Noise and Vibration Management Plan(s), which will be developed from the Outline Construction Noise and Vibration Management Plan (APP-196) and which forms part of the Outline Code of Construction Practice (OCoCP). The detailed CoCP(s) are secured by Requirement 8 of Schedules 2A and 2B of the draft DCO (AS-004). Detailed Construction Noise and Vibration Management Plan(s) will be implemented by the Applicants as approved by the relevant local planning authorities in consultation with the relevant statutory stakeholders, as appropriate.

With regards to potential operational noise arising from Work No. 21A (Morgan onshore substation) and Work No. 21B (Morecambe onshore substation) the Applicants must carry out these works in accordance with the detailed operational noise management plan(s), as approved by the relevant local planning authorities in accordance with Requirement 18 of Schedules 2A and 2B of the draft DCO (AS-004).

The assessment of the potential for increased flood risk arising from additional surface water runoff is presented within section 2.11.4 of Volume 3, Chapter 2: Hydrology and flood risk of the ES (document reference APP-070). Mitigation measures are discussed within Table 2.19 of Volume 3, Chapter 2: Hydrology and flood risk of the ES (document reference APP-070). An Outline Code of Construction Practice (document reference APP-193) has been prepared and submitted with the application for development consent. The Outline CoCP includes measures in relation to flood risk during the construction phase. (which is secured via Requirement 8 of Schedules 2A and 2B of the draft DCO (AS-004)).

Furthermore, the Transmission Assets have committed (see CoT11 of Volume 1, Annex 5.3: Commitments register of the ES (document reference APP-030)) to preparation of detailed Operational Drainage Management Plans which are to be developed in accordance with the outline Operational Drainage Management Plan, the latest relevant guidance and in consultation with the Environment Agency and the Lead Local Flood Authority (being Lancashire County Council). This is secured via Requirement 20 of Schedules 2A and 2B of the draft DCO (AS-004). The detailed plans will include measures to ensure that existing land drainage is reinstated and/or maintained.

No. The Project has committed to undergrounding the entirety of its onshore export cable corridor. None of this cabling will be installed under any residential or commercial buildings.

More detailed mapping can be found in the Project’s Onshore and Intertidal Order Limits Plan which was submitted as part of our application for development consent.

The Applicants do not envisage any impact on property prices. The Transmission Assets will be fully compliant with the compensation code where diminution in property prices can be demonstrated to have been caused by the Transmission Assets. The code sets out the parameters and evidence needed to substantiate a claim for diminution in value and when this happens. The UK Government has also produced a series of plain English general guides to compulsory purchase and compensation which may be useful: Compulsory purchase and compensation (Guide books 1 and 4 being the most appropriate).

Along the cable corridor, the Applicants have made a commitment (CoT08 of Volume 1, Annex 5.3 of the Environmental Statement (AS-030)) to reinstate the working area post construction to pre-existing condition as far as reasonably practical in line with relevant guidance. This is secured via article 29 and Requirement 16 of Schedules 2A & 2B of the draft DCO (AS-004).

The importance of balancing national energy security with the need to protect productive farmland has been a consideration in the site selection, refinement and design process (Environmental Statement Volume 1, Chapter 4 Site Selection and Consideration of Alternatives (AS-026)) and Volume 3 Chapter 6 Land Use and Recreation as well as the Statement of Reasons (AS-009)).

In recognition of this balancing act, the Applicants have sought to minimise impacts on agricultural land:

• Through the design of the Transmission Assets;
• Through their proposed use of temporary possession and compulsory acquisition powers; and
• Through implementing measures to mitigate impacts on soils during construction and providing for restoration of agricultural land.

With regards to permanent land take, the Environmental Statement Land Use Chapter (APP-104) sets out the impacts on agricultural land at section 6.11.2. With regards to agricultural permanent land take, paragraph 6.11.29 notes that “the total area of the permanent land take at the onshore substations would be approximately 25.7 ha. The areas of the link box covers would also affect a small additional area of approximately 0.1 ha of land in total.” This equates to approximately 25.8 ha (64 acres).

In addition, paragraph 6.6.2.11 of the Environmental Statement Land Use Chapter (APP-104) sets out that approximately 68.9 ha of agricultural land will be subject to permanent land take for biodiversity benefit, enhancement or mitigation areas.

Following completion of the construction of the Transmission Assets, local farmland along the onshore export cable corridor and 400kV grid connection cable corridor will be able to return to normal agricultural operations. This is because the onshore export cables will be buried to a depth where agricultural practices can continue safely. In addition, any areas required on a temporary basis to facilitate construction of the onshore substations will also be reinstated at the end of construction and returned to agricultural use.

This is secured in CoT08, which states that “Post-construction, the working area will be reinstated to pre-existing condition as far as reasonably practical in line with the DEFRA Construction Code of Practice for the Sustainable Use of Soils on Construction Sites (PB13298), Institute of Quarrying (IQ) Good Practice Guide for Handling Soils in Mineral Workings (IQ, 2021) and British Society of Soil Science (BSSS) Working with Soil Guidance Note on Benefitting from Soil Management in Development and Construction (BSSS, 2022).”

No. The Applicants followed an iterative route planning and site selection process that led to the identification of the landfall, onshore export cable corridor route and onshore substation sites.

This process, outlined in Volume 1, Chapter 4: Site Selection and Consideration of Alternatives (AS-026) and Volume 1, Annex 4.3: Selection and Refinement of the Onshore Infrastructure (AS-028) of the Environmental Statement, progressed through four stages, incorporating feedback at each stage and assessing non-Green Belt alternatives, where feasible. However, given the spatial requirements for the transmission infrastructure and the need to connect to the national electricity transmission network at Penwortham, it was not possible to avoid Green Belt land.

While the onshore substations constitute new buildings, their siting and associated landscape mitigation have been designed to minimise landscape and visual impacts, as much as possible, as set out in sections 4.4 to 4.9 of Volume 1, Chapter 4: Site selection and consideration of alternatives (AS-026) and Volume 1, Annex 4.3: Selection and Refinement of the Onshore Infrastructure (AS-028) of the Environmental Statement.

Furthermore, the Applicants have made a commitment (CoT08 of Volume 1, Annex 5.3 of the Environmental Statement (AS-030)) to reinstate the working area post construction to pre-existing condition as far as reasonably practical in line with relevant guidance. This is secured via article 29 and Requirement 16 of Schedules 2A & 2B of the draft DCO (AS-004).

The Applicants are committed to delivering a community benefit fund in line with the Community Funds for Transmission Infrastructure guidance recently published (updated 9 April 2025) by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. The guidance sets out the government's recommendation for the level of funding that developers should consider for community benefit, which is outlined to be £530,000 for each onshore substation.

In alignment with the guidance, the Applicants will commence engagement with key stakeholders later this year to ensure that any community benefit scheme considers the needs of the community and supports local priorities, where possible.

Through the application process, the Applicants have identified stakeholders and communities to engage with. Local authorities, and parish, community and/or town councils are well placed to act as a first point of contact and can help to identify existing groups and networks within the community, and the Applicants will initially make contact with those organisations.

Should Morgan Offshore Wind project or Morecambe Offshore Windfarm wish to take part in the government’s Contract for Difference (CfD) process, there will be a requirement to produce Supply Chain Plans. These Supply Chain Plans will be evaluated as part of the CfD process and will ultimately need to be approved by the Secretary of State in order for a project to qualify for a CfD. Supply Chain Plans are designed to provide local economic benefits through the implementation of the procurement process with Tier 1, 2 and 3 suppliers.

The following key areas could deliver economic opportunities to the local community;

• Port and Harbour services
• Fabrication services
• Operations and Maintenance Support
• Onshore Civil works
• Hospitality
• Offshore Surveys

Should either project be successful in the CfD process monitoring against the content of the Supply Chain Plans(s) will be undertaken to ensure the commitments made, have been fulfilled. This includes production of a Post Build Implementation Report, which is required as part of the CfD process and demonstrates various points with regard to the implementation of the Supply Chain Plan(s).

The Transmission Assets will clearly make a significant contribution towards the UK’s much-needed transition to a low carbon economy. Expenditure on major energy infrastructure projects can stimulate economic growth by creating jobs and increasing output. The Transmission Assets will have direct economic benefits through the creation of employment associated with delivering each phase of a project. More detailed information on the socio-economic benefits of the Transmission Assets is provided in Volume 4, Chapter 2: Socio-economics of the Environmental Statement (APP-141).

Specifically, tables 2.69 and 2.73 identify the potential for up to 255 employment opportunities (Full Time Equivalent years) for residents in the study area during development and construction, and up to 50 such opportunities during the operation and maintenance phase.

Requirement 19 of Schedules 2A and 2B to the draft DCO (AS-004) requires that no works may commence within a relevant planning authority’s area until, after consultation with Lancashire County Council, an employment and skills plan has been notified in writing to the relevant planning authority. This must be substantially in accordance with the Outline Employment and Skills Plan (APP-239) submitted with the DCO application. The Outline Employment and Skills Plan (APP-239) sets out various initiatives which will aim to support employment and skills development in the local area, in alignment with various outline principles which have been identified to support employment and skills needs in North West England.

For works happening in a relatively small, discrete area on or close to the beach, such as work at compounds and cofferdams, only the immediate vicinity will be closed and demarcated with fencing or other appropriate barriers ensuring access to the remainder of the beach is unaffected.

Appendix A of the Outline Public Rights of Way (PRoW) Management Plan (AS-048) provides detail regarding public access at Lytham St Annes Beach. For activities on the beach, from the direct pipe exit pits to Mean Low Water Springs (such as for direct pipe installation and offshore cable pull-in and burial), a section of the beach would need to be temporarily closed off to public access, for short durations, while certain activities are taking place. In such cases, the Applicants will implement managed crossings either to the seaward or landward side to allow users to maintain access across the beach.

Detailed management measures for how such closures at the beach would be undertaken will be agreed with the relevant local authorities as part of the detailed PRoW Management Plan(s) secured through Requirement 8 of Schedules 2A and 2B of the draft DCO (AS-004).

The Applicants will manage and maintain access to the existing Public Rights of Way (PRoW) network during construction (CoT91 of Volume 1, Annex 5.3: Commitments Register of the ES). No PRoW will be permanently stopped up as a result of the construction, operation and maintenance or decommissioning of the Transmission Assets.

To manage the potential impacts of construction, the Applicants will apply the measures described in the Outline PRoW Management Plan (AS-048). For the majority of the PRoW intersected by the Onshore Order Limits, it is proposed that these will remain open with appropriate signage (i.e. managed crossings) to warn of the presence of construction vehicles, and to warn of the presence of walkers, cyclists and horse riders. These managed crossings of PRoW will be fenced off with gated crossing points and temporary site fencing to prevent the public from accessing the PRoW, when access would need to be managed. Where there is a specific requirement to maintain the access, a suitable route will be clearly marked out to aid safe passage. Where such crossings are installed, a gap will be left in the topsoil bunds after the topsoil has been stripped within the onshore export cable corridors.

The measures to be implemented as part of the PRoW Management Strategy seek to minimise impacts on public footpaths, bridleways and other promoted routes (e.g. National Cycle Routes (NCRs), Long Distance Footpaths) during construction of the Transmission Assets. The detailed Public Right of Way Management Plan(s), which will be developed in accordance with the outline Public Rights of Way Management Plan (AS-048), and which forms part of the detailed Code of Construction Practice(s). The detailed CoCP(s) are secured by Requirement 8 of Schedules 2A and 2B of the draft DCO (AS-004). Detailed Public Right of Way Plan(s) will be implemented as approved by the relevant local planning authority.

Furthermore, the Applicants have made a commitment (CoT08 of Volume 1, Annex 5.3 of the Environmental Statement (AS-030)) to reinstate the working area post construction to pre-existing condition as far as reasonably practical in line with relevant guidance. This is secured via article 29 and Requirement 16 of Schedules 2A & 2B of the draft DCO (AS-004).

As set out within Sections 6.11.4.14 to 6.11.4.19 of Volume 3, Chapter 6 of the Environmental Statement (APP-104) construction of the Transmission Assets will result in a temporary short-term reduction in available open green space land at Blackpool Road Recreation Ground. The Applicants have made a commitment (CoT32 of Volume 1, Annex 5.3: Commitments Register of the ES (AS-030)) to producing an open space management plan to minimise potential impacts to users of Blackpool Road Recreation Ground. This is secured by Requirement 8 within Schedules 2A & 2B of the draft Development Consent Order (AS-004). Detailed Open Space Management Plan(s) will be implemented by the Applicants as approved by the local planning authorities.

Furthermore, the Applicants have made a commitment (CoT124 of Volume 1, Annex 5.3: Commitments Register of the ES (AS-030)) to provide appropriate mitigation for construction activities at Blackpool Road Recreation Ground (for example, the relocation or provision of alternate amenities). The Applicants are in discussions with the relevant parties in relation to separate agreements (for example, via section 106 agreements under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and/or section 111 agreements under the Local Government Act 1972) to deliver any additional mitigation required and minimise disruption to recreational users of the Blackpool Road Recreation Ground.

Finally, the Applicants have made a commitment (CoT08 of Volume 1, Annex 5.3 of the Environmental Statement (AS-030)) to reinstate the working area post construction to pre-existing condition as far as reasonably practical in line with relevant guidance. This is secured via article 29 and Requirement 16 of Schedules 2A & 2B of the draft DCO (AS-004).

The Applicants have undertaken a rigorous and robust route planning and site selection process as presented in Volume 1, Chapter 4: Site selection and consideration of alternatives (AS-026). In line with the guiding principles of site selection process and as part of the feedback received during consultation the project has committed to the installation of the onshore export cable corridor by trenchless techniques from Blackpool Airport to the Landfall underneath a series of constraints including the Lytham St Annes Dunes SSSI, Cliffton Drive North (A584 Road), railway and St Anne’s Old Links Golf Course (CoT44 of Volume 1, Annex 5.3: Commitments Register of the ES (AS-030)).

The Applicants have actively sought opportunities to mitigate the potential effects of the onshore cable route, with the aim of protecting the landscape character and qualities wherever possible. Locating the entry pits at Blackpool Airport, and not St Annes Old Links Golf Course, achieves this by minimising impact to the landscape and surrounding community. The Applicants have also made a similar commitment of using trenchless techniques in a number of locations as set out in CoT02 of Volume 1, Annex 5.3: Commitments Register of the ES (AS-030), secured by Requirements 5 and 8 within Schedules 2A and 2B of the draft Development Consent Order (AS-004). Therefore, the Applicants consider that the St Anne’s Old Links Golf Course has not been given preferential treatment for the use of trenchless installation techniques.

The feedback we received as part of our community consultations helped us to refine our proposals prior to the submission of our application. For example, the maximum height of the proposed onshore substations (excluding lightning protection masts) has been reduced by at least five metres and the option to install the onshore cables along Blackpool Road North and Kilnhouse Lane, south of Blackpool Airport has been removed from our proposals.

The Project is now in the examination stage, where anyone who registered as an interested party can speak at hearings or submit comments in writing to the Planning Inspectorate. The first opportunity for interested parties to have their say as part of this process was Open Floor Hearing 1 (OFH1) which concluded on 02 May 2025.

The next open floor hearing (OFH2) on the project will commence on Tuesday 24 June 2025, with an accompanied site inspection scheduled for Wednesday 25 June 2025 and Thursday 26 June 2025 (if required). More information can be found in the Project’s Rule 8 letter which is available on the Planning Inspectorate website, here.

If you have any questions on the examination process, you can get in touch with the Planning Inspectorate at morganandmorecambeowfta@planninginspectorate.gov.uk