Other Permit Awarded

On 17 July 2024, the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero issued a formal decision letter approving the Version 2 Benthic Implementation and Monitoring Plan (BIMP) for the Norfolk Boreas Offshore Wind Farm. The Planning Inspectorate’s Norfolk Boreas documents portal lists this as a post-decision document titled “Decision letter for The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero to approve the Version 2 Benthic Implementation and Management Plan,” confirming that this activity-specific benthic plan has received ministerial approval. The document is categorised under the post-decision “Benthic Implementation and Monitoring Plan (BIMP)” section, indicating it is part of the project’s post-consent regulatory controls. The approval follows a sequence of submissions and consultations related to the BIMP. On 27 March 2024, Norfolk Projects Offshore Wind Farms submitted multiple Version 2 BIMP documents and annexes, including the main Benthic Implementation and Monitoring Plan, a Benthic Compensation Consultation Report, a Benthic Compensation Funding Statement, and supplementary material on marine debris search areas and education and awareness measures. These were followed by consultation responses on 26 April 2024 from Natural England and the Marine Management Organisation, both explicitly identified as responses “in relation to the Benthic Implementation and Monitoring Plan.” The July 2024 decision letter from the Secretary of State closes this sequence by confirming governmental approval of the Version 2 BIMP, ensuring that this specific benthic implementation and monitoring framework for Norfolk Boreas is formally authorised within the project’s post-decision regime.