J. Murphy & Sons has begun installing underground cables in North Lincolnshire for what will be the world’s biggest wind farm, DONG Energy’s 1.2GW Hornsea Project One.
The cable route will run approximately 38km from the landfall site at Horseshoe Point to the onshore substation at North Killingholme.
David Maddison, operations director in the Murphy’s power sectors, said: “We have a specialist team laying over 350,000m of cable, using the most efficient methods as our engineers have carefully pre-planned each stage of the route. We have given full consideration to the environment and agricultural areas and the work has been designed to minimise disruption to local communities.”
Murphy will be operating from a construction base at the former Waltham Airfield, near the village of Holton Le Clay.
The compound will be the project management base for the cable installation works and provide additional storage areas for construction material. The site will be used until November 2018 when the onshore cable installation works will have been completed.
Dereth Morgan, Community Liaison Officer for Hornsea Project One, said: “We want all residents to feel informed so we will be providing regular updates on the progress of the cable installation works and on our activities at the site at Waltham. We’re working closely with local stakeholders such Holton Le Clay Parish Council and Waltham Parish Council to ensure residents have all the information they need.”
DONG is putting measures in place to mitigate possible impacts on traffic. For example, the cable will be installed underground using a method which reduces disturbance and construction traffic will be monitored to ensure it adheres to routes set by local authorities.
As well as appointing a Community Liaison Officer who will be visible and contactable during works, the company has been engaging with residents to hear their views and reduce any potential disturbances. Last month they held two events in Waltham and Stallingborough to give local people a chance to meet the team and find out more.
Helen Reynolds, Vice Chairman of Holton Le Clay Parish Council, said: “We are in regular contact with Murphys and DONG Energy to raise residents’ concerns and keep up to date with progress. Both companies have been very accommodating and deal with any concerns raised. We are confident they will do all they can to limit any disruption to a minimum.”