Tendring District Council has been invited to comment on the draft joint design code for the North Falls and Five Estuaries off-shore wind farm NSIP developments - These are two of a potential four NSIP proposals planned for the north-western part of the district. If all DCO submissions are ultimately approved, the resulting concentration of electricity infrastructure in this currently rural area could have significant and far-reaching implications—particularly if a coordinated approach to design and landscaping is not adopted. It is therefore important that the views and concerns of the Council and its residents are communicated clearly through this consultation, so that they can influence the continued development of the design code for these two developments.

For TDC to submit a thorough and detailed response to the North Falls and Five Estuaries joint design guide public consultation documentation and questions. In summary TDC raises issues in a number of areas specifically the perceived lack of cohesion, ambition, and ecological depth in design matters—treating substations as isolated projects with weak biodiversity plans, in places uninspired landscaping, fragmented infrastructure strategy, and missed opportunities for sustainable innovation and genuine and meaningful community engagement.

1.The only other option is to not submit a response/not engage with the design guide consultation.
This would reduce the Council’s ability to influence design and landscape matters and also reduce the Council’s ability to represent the concerns of its residents who are most directly and significant affected by the proposals.