White Cross

Off-Shore Wind Farm Application 77576 for on-shore cabling

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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

Consultation ended 3rd November ’23. To view all documents and submit a representation see:

www.planning.northdevon.gov.uk/Planning/Display/77576

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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 1^st July 2024 although their response to the LPA dated 18^th 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.

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UPDATE – 4th MARCH ’24

The Case Officer wrote a detailed letter to the applicant requesting further information and clarification:

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19th March the applicant responded:

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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):

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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 8^th 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 1^st 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

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Reply from Love Braunton 18.01.24:

Dear Mr Hall

Thank you for responding to our letter dated 5^th January and confirming that an extension has been agreed with the applicant to the 1^st July 2024.

We note from your mail to the applicant dated 16^th January 2024 that additional  information will be submitted by 23^rd February 2024 which will then be subject to public consultation.

We note that the relevant letters will be publicised shortly.

Kind regards,

Love Braunton

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Briefing Notes – Love Braunton is submitting briefing notes to members of the Planning Committee ahead of their meeting – these can be found below:

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Love Braunton’s first letter of objection (26.10.23) to the on-shore cabling proposal:

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Love Braunton’s second letter of objection (03.11.23) to the on-shore cabling proposal:

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Love Braunton’s third letter of objection (12.11.23) to the on-shore cabling proposal:

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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:

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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.”

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Love Braunton statement given at Braunton Parish Council meeting 24th October ’23 where the application was rejected by the Council:

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Presentation given at public meeting 12th October ’23:

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If you have any questions please email us at: connect@lovebraunton.org and we will try to answer them.

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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.