Council in England not to oppose 970-MW Navitus Bay wind plan

Oct 10, 2014 - The New Forest District Council in England has decided not to oppose the 970-MW Navitus Bay wind project off England’s southern coast, the Southern Daily Echo said on Thursday.

Councillors voted on Wednesday not to submit a formal objection to the scheme in spite of concerns over the potential impact of the 194-turbine wind farm on the area. However, the Council will reserve the right to lobby a planning inquiry that is scheduled to commence next week. According to the report, the New Forest District Council is holding talks with project developer Navitus Bay Development Ltd, seeking to urge the company minimise the impact of the project.

Earlier this year, the Dorset County Council and Bournemouth Borough Council formally objected to the wind farm, as did the Christchurch Borough Council. The project will be subject to final consideration by the British government.

Once operational, the 970-MW offshore wind farm near the Isle of Wight is expected to produce enough power to meet the annual electricity needs of about 700,000 households. Its developer is a 50/50 joint venture between Dutch energy group Eneco Holding NV and French utility EDF's (EPA:EDF) renewable energy arm.

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