Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Alok Sharma has been given consent to Vattenfall's 1.8GW Norfolk Vanguard project, comprising of between 90 and 180 turbines sitting 30 miles offshore.

Vattenfall describe the schemer as a pivotal decision for the region’s energy profile, saying: “The project will help to cement and maintain East Anglia as a UK renewable energy powerhouse, and put the region at the heart of our national transition to a low-carbon economy.”

Sharma also indicated that he was “minded to approve” Orsted’s 2.4GW Hornsea Three project as well.

Orsted acquired the rights to develop the Hornsea Zone from SMart Wind in 2015 who were originally awarded the zone in The Crown Estate Round 3 bid process. And the project was submitted for a Development Consent Order (DCO) in May 2018. The application was accepted by the Planning Inspectorate and is currently being examined with a consent decision expected this year.

Commenting on the decision RenewableUK’s chief executive Hugh McNeal said: "Large scale offshore wind power is good for our environment and our economy, by tackling climate change will boosting productivity and creating thousands of jobs in the process. These projects will help us to maintain our global lead in offshore wind, as well as building up our UK supply chain".

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