Written Statements

Thursday 11th September 2025 Written Statements

Thursday 11 September 2025

Five Estuaries Offshore Wind Farm: Development Consent

Thursday 11th September 2025 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Ed Miliband)]

This statement concerns an application for development consent made under the Planning Act 2008 by Five Estuaries Offshore Wind Farm Ltd for the construction and operation of an offshore generating station comprised of up to 79 wind turbine generators, off the coast of Essex and Suffolk.

Under section 107(1) of the Planning Act 2008, the Secretary of State must make a decision on an application within three months of the receipt of the examining authority’s report unless exercising the power under section 107(3) of the Act to set a new deadline. Where a new deadline is set, the Secretary of State must make a statement to Parliament to announce it.

The statutory deadline for the decision on the Five Estuaries offshore wind farm is 17 September 2025.

I have decided to allow an extension and to set a new deadline of 17 December 2025. This is to allow time to request further information that was not provided for consideration during the examination period and to give all interested parties the opportunity to review and comment on such information. While it is not my preference to extend, I am clear that applications for consent for energy projects submitted under the Planning Act 2008 must meet the necessary standards.

The decision to set the new deadline for this application is without prejudice to the decision on whether to grant or refuse development consent.

[HCWS919]

Chief Coroner’s Annual Report to the Lord Chancellor

Thursday 11th September 2025 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Alex Davies-Jones)]

I am pleased to lay and publish the chief coroner’s 11th annual report to the Lord Chancellor on the operation of coroner services, under section 36 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009.

The report provides a comprehensive overview of the work taken forward across the coroner service in England and Wales in the calendar year 2024, under the leadership of the chief coroner. It provides valuable insights into the service’s operations and future direction.

In particular, the chief coroner’s report sets out:

The continuing work to promote consistency in the resourcing of and practices in coroner offices across England and Wales;

The training and guidance that coroners and their officers have received and the engagement with a wide range of stake- holders; and

Recommendations to improve coroner services further.

I am very grateful to Her Honour Judge Alexia Durran for her work in preparing the report, which is her first as chief coroner, following her appointment in May 2024. I also extend my sincere thanks to His Honour Thomas Teague KC who, throughout his tenure as chief coroner from December 2020 to May 2024, demonstrated tireless commitment in his leadership role—particularly in completing his welfare tour of all coroner areas following the pandemic.

I am grateful too to all coroners and their officers and other staff for their continued dedication to improving services for bereaved people through their invaluable frontline work.

The report will be available online, at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/chief-coroners-annual-report-2024

[HCWS918]