UK energy secretary Ed Miliband has approved planning consent for Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners’ (CIP) 480-megawatt Morecambe offshore wind project in the Irish Sea, the government and developers said.
The 35-turbine scheme becomes the fourth UK offshore wind development to secure approval in 2024, following permits earlier this year for RWE’s 1.2-gigawatt Rampion 2 in April and JERA Nex bp-EnBW’s 1.5-GW Mona and 1.5-GW Morgan projects in July and August.
A decision on the Morecambe project, part of the UK’s Round 4 leasing round, had been expected by 18 December after officials extended an original 10 October deadline to gather additional information. The application was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate on 31 May 2024.
Morecambe has an agreement to connect to National Grid’s Penwortham substation in Lancashire by the end of June 2029. The project will share a joint transmission system with the neighbouring Morgan array being developed by JERA Nex bp, which is progressing through a separate planning process.
The wind farm, acquired by CIP from Cobra and Flotation Energy in mid-2024, was eligible to participate in Allocation Round 7 of the UK’s Contracts for Difference scheme.
Holly Cartwright, UK and Ireland co-chief executive at Copenhagen Offshore Partners, said the approval follows “many years of intensive development and engagement.” She added: “We are delighted with today’s positive decision from the secretary of state… It marks a significant milestone in delivering a project that will strengthen the UK’s clean energy future.”
Keld Bennetsen, COP executive vice president and head of Europe, said the decision allows the consortium to move forward with the next stages. “The positive offshore planning approval represents a major step for Morecambe, and we are ready to progress to the next phase of the project,” he said. “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.”
