Windfarm developers explain plans for Surfleet Marsh windfarm while concerns are raised over impact on local environment

Hearings will be held on a number of key aspects of a major offshore windfarm development - which will include a substation in this area.

The Outer Dowsing Wind Farm scheme could see up to 100 turbines constructed 33 miles off the Lincolnshire coast with the aim of generating 1.5GW of energy - which could power more than 1.6million homes.

Developers say they need to build a substation in Surfleet Marsh in order to convert the power from the wind farm into a suitable currents to go into the national network.

The National Grid is proposing to build another substation in nearby Weston Marsh to take the power generated by the the Spalding PV & BESS (Battery Energy Storage Systems) Station, Holbeach Marsh Energy Park as well as the Outer Dowsing wind farm.

Concerns have been raised locally about the impact of both substations on the nearby environment.

The decision on whether to approve the wind farm and the substation bid, developed by TotalEnergies, Corio Generation and Gulf Energy Development, lies in the hands of The Planning Inspectorate - and not South Holland District Council.

The council is also missing out on vital cash as the money paid by developers will be going to East Lindsey where it makes landfall - despite the major infrastructure being constructed in this area.

A week of hearings looking at compulsory purchase and environmental matters will be held in early December by the Planning Inspectorate - which is due to make a decision on the windfarm and the substation in late 2025.

An Outer Dowsing spokesman said: “Outer Dowsing Offshore Wind plans to install 1.5GW of renewable power generation 33 miles from the Lincolnshire coast. This offshore location was selected as part of The Crown Estate leasing process that identified the optimal places for wind power generation considering factors such as favourable wind resource and other seabed users.

“The corresponding onshore grid connection location was determined by the National Grid Electricity System Operator as part of the Holistic Network Design (HND) for all new offshore wind connections. In addition to bolstering UK energy security and reducing emissions, it is estimated that billions will be spent in the UK over the lifetime of the project, along with the creation of thousands of skilled jobs and a local community benefit fund.

“Outer Dowsing Offshore wind entered the examination phase of the Development Consenting process in October 2024, which is coordinated by The Planning Inspectorate and due to end by April 2025. While our consultation phase closed early in 2024, Outer Dowsing Offshore Wind has continued the dialogue with local communities via our community liaison groups, community events and ongoing correspondence”

The developer is looking to construct up to 100 off shore wind turbines in the North Sea. There are already several wind farms dotted around the Lincolnshire coastline.

Power generated by this wind farm is proposed to be transferred to the Surfleet Marsh Substation via offshore and onshore underground cables.

Once the power has been converted, it will travel along 400kV underground cables to the Weston Marsh substation.

Developers say the substation will have a maximum footprint of 14 hectares but will be surrounded by trees to hide the facility and that the technology will be decided upon after the completion of design and the procurement process.

They have also stated that they have reached agreement with 90% of the landowners but ‘as a last resort’ will use compulsory purchase orders to get the land for the project.

Surfleet Parish Council chairman Alan Tokley said the council would be opposed to the application for the substation due to the impact on the environment.

South Holland District Council has recently gave unanimous support to the motion put forward by Coun Laura Eldridge calling on ‘national authorities and infrastructure project planners to recognise the importance of the Fenland landscape and South Holland’s role as a food-producing area’.

During that debate Coun Liz Sneath raised fears about the size of the substation at Surfleet Marsh and the impact of birds nesting in the large amounts of trees which will be planted to shield it. She added that the ‘right tree in the right place’ was vital.

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