Lancashire Councils Welcome Delay to Offshore Wind Connection Decision

Lancashire County Council, Fylde Council and Wyre Council have welcomed the government’s decision to delay determination of the Morgan and Morecambe transmission connection assets until September.

The decision follows completion of the councils’ joint economic review into alternative onshore connection options along the Fylde Coast.

Using the Government’s Green Book methodology, the review identified the potential for:

• Up to £520m in avoided national infrastructure costs
• Around 1,100 additional jobs linked to Hillhouse Enterprise Zone
• Between £990m and £1.7bn in additional economic output between 2030 and 2040
• A potential 8.6% increase in the size of the Wyre economy

 

With this evidence the councils believe that the potential alternative approach involving infrastructure around Rossall, Stanah and Hillhouse warrants further consideration.

Councillor Joshua Roberts, Cabinet Member for Rural Affairs, Environment & Communities at Lancashire County Council, said: “We welcome the decision to delay determination, the review points to potentially very significant national cost savings and long-term economic gains, and it is important that those issues are properly understood before any final decision is taken.”

Councillor Karen Buckley, Leader of Fylde Council, said: “The findings show an alternative approach could reduce impacts locally while also delivering wider economic benefits. This gives the opportunity for those options to be looked at more closely.”

Councillor Michael Vincent, Leader of Wyre Council, added: “The scale of the opportunity identified through this work is significant, particularly for Hillhouse Enterprise Zone and the wider Wyre economy. It is important that this evidence forms part of the discussion before decisions are finalised.”

The councils confirmed that the economic review remains separate from the statutory planning process.