Plans for new wind farm near Southminster unveiled

Dengie Marshes Wind Farm Limited (DMWFL) has submitted an EIA Scoping Opinion to Maldon District Council for the project on the Dengie Peninsula, on land near Bridgewick Road.

The development involves the installation of up to 17 wind turbines, each potentially reaching a height of 200 metres, with a total capacity of up to 120 megawatts.

The proposal, however, remains provisional and could change according to the final specifications and site constraints.

The wind farm is a joint venture between DMWFL and several local landowners, including D J Fisher (Farms), J D Mee & Sons, Parker Farms, and Strutt and Parker Farms.

The planning application does not cover the underground grid connection required from the site to the distribution grid network.

The turbines, once operational, will be lit for aviation safety as per the requirements of the Civil Aviation Authority and the Ministry of Defence.

Each turbine will be positioned on a concrete pad foundation, with part of the crane pads left in place for maintenance purposes over the wind farm's projected 35-year lifespan.

The delivery of the wind turbine components will be facilitated by an existing marine transfer facility on the River Crouch, initially established for a previous wind farm development.

The planning application includes the construction of access tracks for both construction and operational purposes.

These tracks will accommodate abnormal loads, such as the delivery of turbine components and cranes.

An electrical control building, substation, or interconnection facility will be built on-site, connected to the power collection system cables linking each turbine.

These cables will be laid underground and include fibre optic connection network cables for safe operation.

The proposal also incorporates a permanent anemometry mast, drainage and flood attenuation measures, and landscape planting for ecological enhancement.

The construction process is expected to begin in 2028 and finish in 2030 if plans are approved.

A temporary concrete batching plant might be set up on-site to decrease the number of vehicle movements during construction.

The underground electricity cables connecting the site to the existing substation at Rayleigh will be installed by the distribution network operator.