Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners’ 480MW Morecambe offshore wind farm has cleared a major hurdle after securing planning consent from the UK government. Energy secretary Ed Miliband signed off the Development Consent Order, allowing the Irish Sea project to move toward construction.

The fixed-bottom scheme, made up of 35 turbines, is being advanced by Copenhagen Offshore Partners (COP), CIP’s exclusive offshore wind development arm. COP took over development earlier this year after CIP acquired the project from previous owners Cobra and Flotation Energy.

Holly Cartwright, UK and Ireland co-CEO at COP, said the approval capped “many years of intensive development and engagement” and marked “a significant milestone in delivering a project that will strengthen the UK’s clean-energy future”.

Morecambe is the fourth UK offshore wind project to secure consent this year, following approvals for RWE’s 1.2GW Rampion 2 in April and JERA Nex bp and EnBW’s 1.5GW Mona and 1.5GW Morgan developments earlier in the summer.

The consent signing had been expected in October but was pushed back to mid-December to allow for further consultation. The project was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate in May 2024 and includes an agreed grid connection route into the Penwortham substation in Lancashire by mid-2029.Morecambe and the adjacent Morgan wind farm will share a joint transmission system, although each scheme is progressing through its own consent process.

CIP said the decision marks the completion of many years of surveys, data analysis and engagement with key stakeholders to ensure the project is ready to advance to construction, which is scheduled for 2027. When complete, the wind farm will generate enough renewable electricity to power more than 500,000 UK homes.