04 March 2024 , 11:52
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These birds-eye view photographs show the impact work to lay new cables from the world's largest wind farm is having on the English countryside.
Danish company Ørsted is developing the Hornsea Three wind farm off the Norfolk coast, with cables running underground from Weybourne to Swardeston, south of Norwich. Trenches measuring 80m wide have been dug for the cables and these images by aerial photographer Mike Page show the impact of that construction work.
The cables travel for 33 miles, connecting to the National Grid via a converter station being built off the A47 near Swardeston, south of Norwich. Luke Bridgman, Hornsea Three project director, said: "We're grateful for the understanding and co-operation of local communities in North Norfolk so far as we build Hornsea 3, the world's largest wind farm.
The distribution site for Hornsea 3 cables and others to the south of A47 near Norwich (Mike Page/SWNS)"We've started work on the cable route and the converter station which will bring clean energy from the windfarm on shore and connect it to the UK grid boosting our energy security by supplying to three million homes. As this is such a large project, traffic and deliveries to and from the sites are unavoidable, but we've been working closely with local authorities and residents to give advance notice of works taking place to help minimise disruption.
"We have agreements in place with landowners on how and where we work and once cables have been laid, we'll make good all construction sites and carefully restore the land to how it was before." However, there has been criticism that soil dug to create the trenches for the cable route had been carried by surface run-off in heavy rain and deposited into the River Glaven.
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The Hornsea Three cable route near Corpusty, Norfolk (Mike Page/SWNS)North Norfolk MP Duncan Baker raised his concerns in Parliament in January. Ørsted previously said it was taking steps to ensure mitigation measures were in place to handle extreme weather events. And Mr Bridgman said: "We want to be good neighbours and to hear from communities and residents if they feel things could be done better or differently.
"We welcome local feedback and will continue to talk to those living and working nearby throughout the construction period, which will last roughly 10 months." Ørsted said anyone who wanted to contact them about the work could call 0800 158 2354 or email [email protected].