Eversheds advised on the successful application for the inclusion of compulsory acquisition powers in the Triton Knoll Electrical System Order 2016, which was granted development consent by the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on 5th September.
Triton Knoll Wind Farm is a proposed round two offshore wind farm off the coast of Lincolnshire, a multi-billion pound investment in clean green UK energy infrastructure. Triton Knoll Offshore Wind Farm is being developed as two separate packages, the offshore array (the wind turbines, meteorological masts, offshore substations and the cables that link the wind turbines to the offshore substations) and the electrical system (the substation, underground cables, the offshore export cables an electrical compound along the onshore cable route.) Eversheds advised on the land assembly, including compulsory acquisition, for the onshore electrical system.
The consented electrical system includes a 60km underground cable route, Intermediate Electrical Compound and Substation, and will connect into the existing National Grid substation at Bicker Fen, Lincolnshire. Eversheds’ advisory work on the compulsory purchase and land acquisition aspects of this project is of national importance in meeting the Government’s renewable energy targets and securing ongoing energy supply.
The Eversheds’ Planning and Infrastructure Consenting Team was led by Michelle Naylor, partner, with support from Fiona Barker, associate and Darren White, senior parliamentary clerk. Our Real Estate team are also advising on securing land rights, led by James Trafford, partner and supported by James Shawe, senior associate and Nadine Gutteridge, senior associate.
Michelle Naylor comments: “The need to take a proportionate approach to land acquisition was a key challenge, with the system affecting in excess of 120 landowners and many more tenant farmers. We advised the client on developing bespoke packages of land rights and restrictions which strike a balance between the needs of the project and mitigating the impacts of the project for landowners, farmers and statutory undertakers. We are very pleased to see that the application has been granted and look forward to supporting Triton Knoll Offshore Wind Farm on further matters.”
Kim Gauld-Clark, Onshore Consents Manager at Triton Knoll Offshore Wind Farm comments: "With a linear cable route of over 120 landowners and a variety of land rights that were required, the land acquisition required for the development was one of the most challenging aspects of the scheme. The excellent support that we received from Michelle and Fiona at Eversheds was invaluable to ensuring that we were able to secure all of the necessary rights required to implement this complex scheme."
