Off-Shore Wind Farm Application 77576 for on-shore cabling
![](https://lovebraunton.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Screenshot-2122.jpg)
![](https://lovebraunton.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Screenshot-2121.jpg)
~
The planning application is only in respect of the laying of the on-shore cable and its proposed route.
White Cross Wind Farm is for 8 floating wind turbines off Hartland Point and is a pilot project.
See: www.whitecrossoffshorewind.com
UPDATE JULY ’24 – further information has been received by North Devon Council (documents dated 02/07/24) consultation ends 27th August ’24.
To view all documents and submit a representation see:
www.planning.northdevon.gov.uk/Planning/Display/77576
We will be looking to see if the issues we raised in our document have been addressed by the applicant, see:
###
Braunton Parish Council at its Council Meeting on Tuesday 13th August 2024 at 7pm in Braunton Parish Hall will be considering the White Cross Offshore Windfarm (Onshore Project) planning application number 77576. The Parish Council have invited the Applicant and Case Officer to attend the meeting. Members of the public can attend and there will an opportunity for public participation.
UPDATE: 3rd July 2024 – proposed temporary Park and Ride at Saunton
#####
##
##
UPDATE: 25th June 2024 – proposed temporary Park and Ride at Saunton
We want to draw your attention to last night’s Parish Council agenda item 5 g which is detailed below:
“Pre-Planning Application
5 (g) ENQ/1094/ 2024
Proposed: Non-residential development for a proposed temporary Park and Ride comprising a temporary use of an agricultural field to relieve pressure from Saunton Sands car park during the construction phase of White Cross Offshore Windfarm
Location: Land off B3231 Sauton Road Saunton Braunton EX33 1LW
Applicant: Kathryn Humber”
Our Chair attended the meeting as a member of the public but the Council Chair directed that in the absence of any detail it could not be discussed. It would seem that the Parish Council are now awaiting a response from Jenni Meakins – Senior Case Officer, to the Parish Council’s request for information. So at this time we have to wait to hear further from the Parish Council.
Whether the LPA provide the requested detail is a mute point. Best practice for planning process is that interested parties are consulted at a pre app stage but it is not a statutory requirement. NDC LPA have historically declined to share pre app requests on the basis that they are confidential.
That said can a potential site be inferred from what is in the public domain?
We know that the applicant will be constructing a major access point and compound west of the Broad Lane/Blind Acres staggered junction on the B3231. Evidenced in Chpt 5 – relevant paras attached and location map pdfs
It would make sense from a developer’s point of view to look for a proposed parking site between that of the proposed Access 3 area and Saunton Sands so as to contain the area of development and minimise proposed shuttle route. Based on these assumptions a general area where the proposed carpark could be located is indicated on attached google map screen shot.
Raises question of why has this suddenly popped up? Certainly not floated at recent public pr event.
Is it to allay fears about access to beach and/or realisation that a large part of carpark will be out of bounds or safety issues around members of the public being in and around a construction site or all of these points?
This corridor of land is also adjacent to a number of the water flows that go into the marsh area. Potential further implications for the environment and the ecology.
Impact on existing carpark business?
In the absence of tangible detail the projected proposed area of carpark site and potential issues are at this time is a scenario based on known detail from the WX application.
The Parish Council are aware of interest in the outcome of their enquiries but they should alsobe aware of the increasing concern at the potential expansion of the proposed area of development by the applicant in our valued and sensitive landscape.
See Documents:
##
##
######
##
24th May 2024 – please find below the link to the latest submission from Natural England. It states:
‘Having thoroughly considered the potential impacts from the proposed White Cross project,
we advise that due to the significant ecological risk posed by the project on the South West
GHB (Greater Horseshoe Bat) population, surveys following best practice guidance should be undertaken between
April and October 2024 (inclusive), to inform any application addendum‘.
However, at the Public Consultations this week the White Cross team insisted the meetings were part of the preparation for their submissions 1st July 2024.
As Love Braunton suggested, ahead of the May 21st Public Consultation, Ecology Surveys were an area of concern. We stated that the applicant’s response dated 18th March to the LPA’s request for further surveys indicated a reluctance to do any further work after May 2024, particularly in respect of second full year of surveys as it would adversely impact their timelines.
We ask what is driving their timelines – highest environmental protection of our landscape or least cost to them?
Natural England’s letter indicates that we are right to be concerned and that the applicant’s public pronouncements of caring for the environment have little weight.
####
####
20th May ’24 – Suggested areas of questions to ask at the Public Consultations on Tuesday 21st in Braunton and Wednesday 22nd May in Instow- see below for venues and times:
####
Please attend the proposed consultation sessions with your questions and challenges to the proposal.
####
UPDATE – 1st May ’24
Love Braunton have been contacted via email by White Cross Wind Farm Project Team to advise of their new round of public consultations being held on:
- Tuesday 21st May 2024, 11am to 4pm, at Braunton Parish Hall, 5 Chaloners Rd, Braunton EX33 2ES
- Tuesday 21st May 2024, 6pm to 8pm at Isaac Hall, Braunton Academy, Barton Ln, Braunton EX33 2BP
- Wednesday 22nd May 2024, 11am to 6:30pm, at North Devon Cricket Club, The Pavilion Sandhills, Bideford EX39 4LF
We understand that White Cross have retained the services of Coast Communications – https://www.coastmarcoms.co.uk/about-us/, who describe themselves as “providing public relations and strategic communications support to public and private sector clients right across the UK”. The Case Studies on their website are an interesting read and indicate the activities that Coast Communications are involved in.
It would appear that the White Cross website has already had a makeover in respect of FAQs, so our expectation is that these new events will also be a step up from those held in 2023 by the applicant.
That said, fine words cannot address the potential damage this planning application will inflict if it were to be approved. The applicant has still to submit the additional detailed information requested – they have said this will be done by 1st July 2024 although their response to the LPA dated 18th March 2024 evidences that they are challenging the need for it!
Please make a note of these dates in your diary and attend the proposed consultation sessions with your questions and challenges to the proposal. The Parish Council open meeting demonstrated to the White Cross Project Team how well informed residents are and as such will certainly see through the latest PR rhetoric from the developer and their comms team.
~
UPDATE – 4th MARCH ’24
The Case Officer wrote a detailed letter to the applicant requesting further information and clarification:
####
19th March the applicant responded:
####
Love Braunton letters to North Devon Planning regarding the extension for the determination of this application as the applicant is now required to under-take further surveys (15.12.23 and 05.01.24):
###
###
Response from NDC Case Officer 16.01.24:
Dear Love Braunton,
Thank you for your email. I can confirm that whilst the regulations allow for agreement following the expiry of the statutory period for determination, I agreed with the applicant on the 8th January 2023 to an extension of time with the precise date being agreed following discussion and the formulation of an appropriate timeframe. This has now been agreed as the 1st July 2024. The relevant letters will be publicised shortly.
I trust the above satisfies your queries.
Regards,
Neale Hall
Case Officer – Whitecross onshore development proposal Strategic Development & Planning | Place Services | North Devon Council | Barnstaple
###
Reply from Love Braunton 18.01.24:
Dear Mr Hall
Thank you for responding to our letter dated 5th January and confirming that an extension has been agreed with the applicant to the 1st July 2024.
We note from your mail to the applicant dated 16th January 2024 that additional information will be submitted by 23rd February 2024 which will then be subject to public consultation.
We note that the relevant letters will be publicised shortly.
Kind regards,
Love Braunton
Briefing Notes – Love Braunton is submitting briefing notes to members of the Planning Committee ahead of their meeting – these can be found below:
~
~
~
~
![](https://lovebraunton.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/cpre-piece-coverand-1-1-scaled.jpg)
![](https://lovebraunton.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/cpre-piece-2-1024x724.jpg)
![](https://lovebraunton.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/cpre-piece-3-1024x724.jpg)
Love Braunton’s first letter of objection (26.10.23) to the on-shore cabling proposal:
~
Love Braunton’s second letter of objection (03.11.23) to the on-shore cabling proposal:
~
Love Braunton’s third letter of objection (12.11.23) to the on-shore cabling proposal:
#
Submission on Planning Portal: we believe that this submission illustrates very well why the White Cross onshore application is of no benefit to our local community and the wider South West:
Natural England’s Consultation response dated 3/11/23 is now on the Planning Portal – Application link: https://planning.northdevon.gov.uk/Planning/Display/77576 Documents tab / Consultation Responses
The response is a comprehensive 153 page consideration of the White Cross application that they summarise in their opening statement as: “After reviewing the Application documents, we feel that there remain a number of fundamental concerns in relation to the application as currently submitted. Until further information/evidence and updated assessments are provided we are unable to agree with the Applicant’s conclusions, advise on the significance of any impacts and appropriateness of any mitigation measures. Natural England therefore requests the Application is put on hold until the required information/evidence is provided.”
Love Braunton statement given at Braunton Parish Council meeting 24th October ’23 where the application was rejected by the Council:
~
Presentation given at public meeting 12th October ’23:
~
If you have any questions please email us at: connect@lovebraunton.org and we will try to answer them.
~
The proposal is in response to the well-known need for sustainable energy. The power generated by the turbines would be fed into the National Grid via a cable that would run in part along the seabed until landfall at Saunton Sands, when the cable will then pass across the land to Crow Point where once again it will go under the estuary up to the sub-station at east Yelland. The proposed route crosses landscape that is both sensitive and in some cases designated.
We draw attention to the Parish Neighbourhood Plan where a number of policies are applicable to this application.
The biggest concern is the impact on the village and local economy during the construction period, which is currently predicted to be 2 years, with up to 92 HGV trips per day along Caen Street and main parts of Saunton beach fenced off. Construction will also impact the local ecology.