Wyre Council has submitted comments to the Secretary of State as part of the Development Consent Order (DCO) examination process for the Morgan and Morecambe Offshore Wind Farms Transmission Assets, ahead of the deadline for this stage of the examination process which closed on Friday 7 August 2026.
The submission references the joint letter sent by Wyre, Fylde and Lancashire County Council to Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh, which called on government to consider an alternative northern connection before decisions are finalised on transmission infrastructure for the Morgan and Morecambe offshore wind projects.
The letter followed EnBW’s withdrawal from the Morgan project and drew on the Councils’ independent economic review, which found the alternative route could save up to £520 million and help unlock Hillhouse Enterprise Zone, supporting around 1,100 additional jobs and between £990 million and £1.7 billion in Gross Value Added.
The Council’s comments urge the Secretary of State to take this evidence into account before the current transmission proposals are locked in.
Councillor Karen Buckley, Leader of Fylde Council, said: “We have been clear throughout this process that decisions of this scale must be based on the fullest possible evidence. Our comments to the Secretary of State reinforce the case set out in our joint letter with Wyre Council and Lancashire County Council, and we will keep pressing government to look seriously at the alternative connection before it is too late to change course.”
Councillor Michael Vincent, Leader of Wyre Council, said: “This is a once-in-a-generation infrastructure decision. We owe it to our residents, businesses and future generations to ensure the right solution is chosen. We are therefore urging the Secretary of State to give full and proper consideration to the alternative northern connection before the current transmission proposals are locked in, so that we can protect communities, support energy security and maximise economic opportunities across Lancashire.”