Good afternoon,
I am writing on behalf of renewable energy company Vattenfall. You may or may not be aware, we are in the process of developing two world class offshore wind farms off the Norfolk coast – some 45 and 70km away from land (too far away to be visible from the coast). These will generate the equivalent electricity to power 3.9 million UK homes, and make a significant contribution to the Government’s green energy targets.
As a parish council within Norfolk, I am writing to share the news that Vattenfall has launched a dialogue aimed at shaping our Norfolk Vanguard and Norfolk Boreas Offshore Wind Farm Projects’ Community Benefit Fund – we’re inviting everyone in Norfolk to “have your say”. The fund will be worth several million pounds over many years and community involvement will help ensure the fund provides a lasting legacy of locally appropriate initiatives and support.
What is a Community Benefit Fund?
Our coordinated offshore wind farms are poised to deliver benefits beyond contributing to the UK’s home-grown, low-C energy supply, and to combatting climate change. They will also deliver investment and opportunities to the local supply chain, local port facilities, bring construction and 25 year long, quality careers, and open export markets via Vattenfall’s wider portfolio. Vattenfall is committed to local communities benefitting from the Norfolk Vanguard and Norfolk Boreas projects. We can’t deliver our projects without the involvement of local communities, any more than the nation can deliver a climate smarter future without everyone being on board. That is why we are establishing a Community Benefit Fund community fund, as a lasting legacy, supporting climate-smarter living initiatives in the region over the lifetime of the projects, which will support locally appropriate climate action – for example, greener local transport and connectivity initiatives, local energy efficiency or renewable energy schemes, local nature restoration and so on.
These benefits are contingent on the projects progressing, and the first funding will be available from 2023, but we are starting the conversation to shape the fund now, because we know from having set up highly successful funds elsewhere that it takes time. Great funds are based on community interests, needs and aspirations, and have the flexibility to adapt, to keep working effectively for communities over their decades-long lifetime.
This is your opportunity to influence how future community funds will be spent and managed in the region. It is important that we hear your views, at the start of the process. This will ensure you have time to fully consider what’s required and to prepare winning applications.
How do I and others take part?
Just take part in the poll by following this link, it is quick and easy to do: http://bit.ly/GMVNorfolk
We would be grateful if you could share the link to our poll widely, to encourage as many people as possible to get involved in this first phase. We have 700 responses already, and would like to hear from more people in your parish. We have noted some practical ways you can help to increase participation in your area:
- Share the poll with your local councillors and encourage them to complete and circulate the poll among their own contacts
- Include a link to the poll on your parish council website
- Share a link to the poll on your social media channels
- Share the poll in your local parish newsletter
- Post a note of the link or QR code on your parish noticeboards
If you would like any support or guidance on how to promote the survey in your area, please do let us know and we would be happy to help. If you have any other suggestions for how we might be able to increase participation in our poll across Norfolk then we would also welcome your feedback.
What will happen next?
The poll will run until mid-June. We’ll share the results widely, and then set up opportunities to explore the themes that participants highlighted. We’ll also then start looking at the best governance structures and administration to support the delivery of the communities’ priorities.
Please find attached an information sheet which you can also pass on, and an information poster suitable for sharing on social media. If you’re interested and would like to find out more information about Vattenfall in Norfolk, please visit our dedicated projects’ website: https://group.vattenfall.com/uk/what-we-do/our-projects/vattenfallinnorfolk.
If you have any questions, or would know someone who would like a paper copy of our poll, contact info@norfolkvanguard.co.uk or freephone 0800 019 3517. We look forward to hearing your views.
Kind regards,
Catrin Jones
Community and Stakeholder Engagement Lead
Norfolk Vanguard and Norfolk Boreas Offshore Wind Farm Projects
SAM 2 Report for Week All: 2021-08-09 to 2021-09-06
