Find out how we engaged and consulted to help shape our proposals.

Consenting process

The Rampion Offshore Wind Farm proposal is defined as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) under the Planning Act 2008. This is because it will have an electrical output greater than 100 MW.

Unlike planning applications which are submitted to local authorities under the Town and Country Planning Act, we'll be applying to the Planning Inspectorate (formerly the Infrastructure Planning Commission) for a Development Consent Order under the Planning Act 2008. Click on the link to find out more.

Early engagement

Since January 2010, when The Crown Estate awarded us the exclusive right to seek to develop an offshore wind farm off the Sussex coast, we have sought to engage with statutory bodies, stakeholder organisations and the local community to seek their views at the earliest opportunity. This has involved meetings with a range of local councillors, presentations to community groups and organisations and raising awareness through events. In June 2010 we launched a naming competition to find a suitable name for the wind farm and in May 2011 and 2012 we sponsored the childrens' parade at the Brighton Festival.

Engagement will continue after the community consultation period in many forms.

Consultation

Under Section 47 of the Act, we are required to consult local communities so that they can have their say and help to shape proposals which will affect their area. For the purposes of this consultation, 'community' is taken to mean those people who live or work in the vicinity of the project and users or visitors to the area who may be indirectly affected by the project. We are also required to submit a Consultation Report with the application, detailing how we have taken into account responses we have received to this and related consultations, and how the consultation requirements of the Act have been complied with.

In addition to community consultation, we're required (under Section 42 of the Act) to consult with statutory bodies such as Natural England, English Heritage, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, other bodies and the wider public (under Section 48 of the Act).

Consultation timeline

Figure 6 below sets out the timeline for formal pre-application consultation for the project.

Timeline for formal pre-application consultation (PDF, size 51KB)