Navitus Bay to have fewer but higher wind turbines

Navitus Bay has generated projections of what the turbines may look like from Bournemouth, including a line showing the width of the area which would be covered

The firm behind a planned wind farm off the south coast of England has decided to use fewer but higher and more powerful turbines for the project.

The £3.5bn Navitus Bay plan A would have 121 8MW turbines at 200m (656ft) high, instead of a maximum of 194 less powerful options.

An alternative smaller plan B, which is also being considered by the planning inspector, would have a maximum of 78.

Opponents of the project fear a negative impact on tourism.

Plan A turbine options

• 121 8MW turbines at a height of 200m (656ft) - chosen

• 161 6MW turbines at a height of 182m (597ft)

• 194 5MW turbines at a height of 177m (581ft)

Supplier MHI Vestas Offshore Wind would make the 80m-long blades at its factory in Newport on the Isle of Wight - six years after it shut a plant on the island, axing 425 jobs and sparking an 18-day sit-in by workers.

Mike Unsworth, project director of Navitus Bay, said 200 jobs would be supported by the work.

He added: "Having suppliers close to the proposed site will also cut down on transport and builds local expertise, which will benefit the project and the region."

The wind farm plans were submitted in 2014 amid claims it would generate power for up to 700,000 homes.

But all local authorities, except the Isle of Wight Council, are opposed and campaigners fear it will have a negative impact on the area's tourist industry.

The wind farm plan will be considered by the Secretary of State

Dr Andrew Langley, from Challenge Navitus, said he had expected the firm would choose the 8MW option.

He added: "It may be supporting 200 jobs... but there will be thousands of more tourism jobs damaged.

"These jobs would have been supported by a wind farm built anywhere."

A smaller scheme, further out to sea, was submitted last year and is being considered alongside the original proposal.

A decision is expected by the autumn.

All nine of the offshore wind farm projects examined to date by the Planning Inspectorate have been given consent.