South coast large offshore windfarm scheme named

Licences for the nine sites around the UK were granted in January 2010

A proposed 76 sq-mile (200-sq-km) windfarm off the Dorset, Hampshire and Isle of Wight coasts has been named the Navitus Bay scheme after a competition.

Navitus Bay will have up to 240 wind turbines located 8.2 miles (13.2km) off Peveril Point at Swanage and 8.4 miles (13.5km) south west of The Needles.

It is one of nine UK sites earmarked for large offshore wind farms.

The windfarm's licence was won by Eneco Wind UK. It will be built between 2016-2019 subject to planning permission.

Eneco Wind UK has said it will have a potential yield of of about 900MW to power about 600,000 homes a year.

Final design

The firm is due to host an event at the Pavilion Theatre, Bournemouth, at 1500 BST, where residents will be able to see the final design and layout of the proposed windfarm.

The holders of all nine UK offshore windfarm licences have signed exclusive agreements with the Crown Estate, which owns the UK seabed.

The Isle of Wight licence covers 280 sq miles (725 sq km) but the firm is only developing part of the area.

It said the name Navitus Bay, which means "energy" in Latin, was suggested by Jacky Ellwood, of Christchurch, Dorset.

It was chosen by the public after five weeks of voting.

Other information events were due to be held at Weymouth, Poole, Newport, Lymington, Christchurch and Swanage between 16 and 31 March.