I am encouraging constituents to feedback on a further Rampion 2 targeted consultation, this time regarding proposals for a small extension to the National Grid Bolney substation, close to Wineham village and located in the Parish of Twineham. They have explained this would be required to essentially provide a ‘socket’ to be able to ‘plug’ in the power from the Rampion 2 wind farm to the National Grid, so that it can be used by homes and businesses. They key here is that the Bolney substation footprint area needs to be extended by up to a 6% to enable this connection.
More information about this proposal and how to provide your feedback is available at: https://rampion2.com/consultation/ which includes a description of the proposal, its location and a summary of its likely environmental effects.
The consultation is open between 28th April and 30th May and responses can be made using any of the following methods:
Online via the Response Form on their project website:
www.rampion2.com
By e-mail:
[email protected]
By Post: FREEPOST: Rampion 2
If you have any questions, you can also get in touch with Rampion using the email address above or by calling them on Freephone: 0800 2800 886.
They have highlighted that this consultation is focussed solely on the substation extension and is not revisiting any other part of the Rampion 2 project such as the offshore elements, the onshore substation at Oakendene or any other part of the onshore cable route.
They confirm they are consulting with adjacent landowners, local residents and key public bodies, including the parishes of Twineham, Cowfold, Bolney an Shermanbury, and welcome feedback from people living and working close to the Bolney substation site. Statutory consultees under s42 of the planning act 2008 will receive formal notification of this consultation by post.
They have assured us that all feedback received will be considered alongside the feedback already received during previous consultations, helping them to form their final proposals.
The areas that form part of these proposals are highlighted on the map below.
Next Steps:
Following the consultation period, their Development Consent Order (DCO) application for the wind farm and its electrical connection is planned to be submitted in summer 2023. Once submitted it will be considered in a process managed by the Planning Inspectorate before a decision on approval is made by the relevant Secretary of State.
The proposed Rampion 2 wind farm could generate up to 1,200 megawatts, enough to power over 1 million homes, meaning Rampion and Rampion 2 combined will be able to power all of the homes in Sussex, twice over.
Should the project achieve consent approval, construction is expected to start around 2026/27, with the wind farm fully operational before the end of the decade, helping meet the Government targets for a fivefold increase in offshore wind capacity by 2030.
