While I have long argued that our planning system is broken (and am therefore very pleased indeed to see the Government’s recognition that it needs significant reform), I am concerned with the reforms proposed in the Government’s ‘Changes to the Current Planning System’.
As the Southern North Sea becomes the world’s largest centre for offshore wind infrastructure, East Anglia is in danger of being ruined by the dozens of Wembley-sized substations and thousands of miles of underground cabling required to connect these new wind farms to our National Grid.
Since the Energy Minister’s announcement of the full Review into improving offshore wind connectivity, my parliamentary colleagues here in the East and I have continued our campaign – with the aim of holding the Review to account and doing our utmost to get a proper strategic Plan for the delivery of this vital technology.
