Developer ‘misled public’ over controversial wind farm off Isle of Wight
Campaigners ask Planning Inspectorate to throw out application for Navitus Bay wind farm, which would have up to 194 turbines and be visible from the Jurassic Coast
Developers of a massive wind farm off the Isle of Wight have misled the public over its appearance and impact on the economy, according to campaigners who argue it will ruin views from some of Britain’s finest coastline.
Plans for the Navitus Bay offshore wind farm, a vast development of up to 194 turbines that has sparked fierce local opposition, were submitted to the Planning Inspectorate on Thursday.
Campaigners have written to the Inspectorate claiming it should not even consider the application as it stands because the developer “failed to consult adequately”.
Dr Andrew Langley of the Challenge Navitus group claims the consultation provided “incomplete, unclear and even misleading information”.
Navitus Bay Development Ltd – a joint venture between French energy giant EDF and Eneco of the Netherlands – announced in February it was scaling back the size of the farm in light of opposition during the consultation.
However, Dr Langley said it might have been forced to make further changes had the public been fully appraised of the project.
The revised proposal for the £3bn wind farm would still span 59 square miles. The turbines would be between 580 and 656 feet tall and would be visible from the shore, including from Durlston Head on the Jurassic Coast, just 9 miles away, and the Needles on the Isle of Wight, less than 11 miles away.
Opponents include local Tory MPs Conor Burns and Richard Drax, who have backed Challenge Navitus campaign.
