UK Thumbs Down Navitus Bay Project

UK government has rejected the GBP 3.5bn Navitus Bay wind farm project planned off the south coast of England.

The decision to dismiss a planning application for up to 194-turbine project was announced by Energy minister Lord Bourne today.

A reduced project version, comprising of up to 105 turbines, was also rejected.

Minister named “seascape, landscape and visual impact” and “visual impact onshore” as the reasons for the decision.

Concerns for the area’s World Heritage Site status was also one of the reasons.

“Careful consideration has been given to the application, and the planning and energy issues involved,” a DECC Spokesperson said.

Stuart Grant, Project Director at Navitus Bay, added: “While we are clearly disappointed by today’s decision, we would like to thank the communities of Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and all our stakeholders for the high level of engagement they’ve shown in the project, including their responses to our consultations and during the examination process.

“During the past five years the project team has carried out comprehensive stakeholder and community consultation. We will now discuss the options available with our shareholders and update stakeholders in due course.”