FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FRIDAY 21 AUGUST 2009

WYRE POWER SUBMITS PLANNING APPLICATION FOR £600 MILLION 875MW POWER GENERATION IN LANCASHIRE

Welsh Power, developers of Wyre Power, have this week submitted Section 36 and Section 14 [1] planning applications for the development of Wyre Power at the Hillhouse International Business Park in Thornton Cleveleys, Lancashire.  The application was submitted to the Department of Energy and Climate Change who lead on power station consents. Approvals are anticipated in spring 2010.

These proposals include an extensive Environmental Impact Assessment, and follow a thorough local consultation process including meetings with the local authority, interest groups and a three-day public exhibition where local people were invited to attend to receive more information and express their views on the project.

Copies of the documents have been placed at the planning offices of Lancashire County Council and Wyre Borough Council, and the following local libraries:

• Thornton Library
  Victoria Road East, Thornton, Cleveleys, FY5 3SZ

• Chatsworth Library
  Chatsworth Av, Fleetwood, FY7 8EG

• Cleveleys Library
  Rossall Road, Thornton Cleveleys, FY5 1EE

• Fleetwood library
  North Albert Street, Fleetwood, Lancashire, FY7 6AJ

Wyre Power will consist of an 850MW CCGT (combined-cycle gas turbine) power plant with a 25MW OCGT (open-cycle gas turbine), with an investment of some £600 million.  It is expected that the development will create 650 jobs during construction, with 40 highly skilled permanent jobs once the power station is in operation. Gas will be supplied from the NTS (National Transmission System); and there is spare capacity at the nearby Stanah substation, facilitating an early grid connection.

Commenting on the announcement, Alex Lambie, Chief Executive of Welsh Power, developers of Wyre Power, said: “Wyre Power is an exciting and valuable development.  With a good connection to the national grid and considerable local support, we are looking forward to receiving the necessary consents in spring 2010.”

“As we demonstrated with the development of Severn Power in South Wales, Welsh Power prides itself on being a good neighbour, and we will ensure that Wyre Power contributes to the local economy and benefits local people.  In particular we will be looking to ensure that contracts are placed locally wherever possible.”

ends

For more information/interview bids:

Laura Matthews, Welsh Power 07786 326509

Notes

[1] The Electricity Act 1989 provides the core legislation for planning consents for the construction and operation of generating stations within England.  Section 36 of the Electricity Act covers the application for a permit to build a power station, and Section 14 the burning of gas.

• More information about Wyre Power can be found at: www.wyrepower.com.