A revised planning application [FUL/000705/25] for the PoA Cable Route Foreshore Works Proposed Development was submitted to FCC in August 2025 and was approved by FCC’s planning committee in November 2025. The revised application sought consent for a realigned section of the cable route following stakeholder feedback received during the consenting process.
Realigned route
The marine element of the original planning application for the PoA Terminal and Foreshore Works includes installation of electrical and fibre-optic cables from the MHWS line to the New Douglas Offshore CCS Platform for which consent was secured on 22 May 2025 under a Marine Licence (ML) application [CML2365] submitted to Natural Resources Wales’ (NWS) Marine Licencing Team.
We received stakeholder feedback on the original ML application to avoid impacts on vessel movements in and out of the Port of Mostyn. In response, we proposed a realignment of the combined electrical and fibre-optic cable. As the proposed realignment lies outside of the planning application area which was approved under planning permission FUL/000246/23, we sought consent for the new cable alignment from FCC through the submission of a new Town and Country Planning Act (TCPA) 1990 (as amended) application.
The new TCPA application sought the re-authorisation for part of the same cable installation works already consented under application FUL/000246/23, but on a new alignment that is approximately 250m further east along Talacre Beach.
Benefits
The new cable alignment offers several advantages compared with the previous alignment, including:
- Minimised ecological impact: the realignment has a slightly smaller seabed footprint in the inter-tidal and sub-tidal areas, due to a more direct, straighter route.
- Environmental advantages: the realignment of the cable laying and the repositioning of the HDD Exit Pit now places the works an additional 250m away from the Little Tern colony at Gronant Dunes. This adjustment means the works will be over 2,250m away from the colony, further minimising potential disturbance to egg laying and chick rearing during the breeding season. Additionally, the cable will be routed on the eastern edge of the Little Tern foraging and provisioning range, an area with less than 1.5% foraging distribution and activity.
- Regulatory compliance: the realignment remains compliant with the Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) and Water Framework Directive (WFD), with no additional adverse effects on designated sites or water quality.
- Improved stakeholder coordination and reduced disturbance to Port of Mostyn: the realignment decreases impact on channel traffic as fewer vessel movements are required due to the reduced complexity of anchor movements. There has also been and will continue to be collaborative planning in place to minimise conflicts with port operations.
- Operational efficiencies: the revised route enables safer and more efficient vessel operations within the Welsh channel, helping to reduce the duration and complexity of offshore construction activities
Map
Our map shows a red line area within which the PoA Cable Route Foreshore Works [revised application - FUL/000705/25] is located. The green line shows the area consented under the PoA Terminal and Foreshore Works [original application - FUL/000246/23].