Vattenfall is currently developing a proposal for the Thanet Extension Offshore Wind Farm as an extension to the existing Thanet Offshore Wind Farm in Kent. Thanet Extension involves the addition of up to 34 turbines around the operational wind farm. OPEN’s work included the preparation of the SLVIA for the offshore wind farm extension, the LVIA for the onshore infrastructure (substation and cable route) and provision of expert witness services during the Examination stage. Thanet Extension is located close to a highly settled coastline with popular visitor attractions, seafronts and beaches, where the comparative scale of the operational and proposed wind turbines was a key matter of consideration in the visual assessment. The onshore cable corridor was designed sensitively to minimise impacts on a country park on its route to the onshore substation, which is sited at an energy/industrial park near the site of the former Richborough Power Station. The recommendation report is with the Secretary of State and determination of the project is due in early 2020.

Map of the area

Beach front buildings

seafront promenade

Thanet Extension Offshore Wind Farm

Thanet Extension Offshore Wind Farm

Thanet Extension Offshore Wind Farm

Aerial photos of the area

Photo of the sea view

Photo of the sea view at night

Field of grass

visualisation of Thanet Substation

Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right (2019).
Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AeroGRID, IGN, and the GIS User Community

Project
Thanet Extension Offshore Wind Farm
Location
Kent
Year
2016
Client
Vattenfall
Status
Ongoing
Type
Landscape Planning