Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what statutory compensation schemes the developers of the Morgan and Morecambe windfarm cabling corridor are required to offer residents affected by their construction works; and what voluntary schemes her Department sought during the planning process.

Although both projects were consented together, different requirements apply to each. There is no compensation scheme for the Morgan project. For the Morecambe project compensation is payable for blight and the grant of Compulsory Acquisition and Temporary Possession powers.

The Government recognises that communities housing clean energy infrastructure should benefit from doing so, and is exploring introducing mandatory community benefits for low-carbon technologies. The offshore wind industry has well-established voluntary community benefit schemes for coastal communities. However, community benefits are not legally material to the planning decision and cannot be considered when deciding whether to grant consent for a project.