Navitus Bay: Government 'must refuse wind farm plans'

An artists's impression, provided by Navitus Bay, shows how the turbines could look 14.6km (9.1 miles) off Swanage

The government should refuse permission for a £3.5bn ($5.46bn) offshore wind farm to be built off the south coast, an MP has said.

South Dorset MP Richard Drax said the 121-turbine Navitus Bay project could "desecrate" the Jurassic Coast and harm tourism in the area.

The appeal follows a recommendation on the project to the government by the Planning Inspectorate on 11 June.

All local councils, except the Isle of Wight Council, are against the scheme.

Mr Drax is one of several Dorset MPs raised concerns about the impact the project would have to the area during a late-night debate in Parliament.

Navitus Bay plan A, the larger of two possible scheme, would see 121 8MW turbines each 200m (656ft) high set in 153 square miles of sea off Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

'Deeply unpopular'

A smaller plan B, which is also being considered, would have a maximum of 78 turbines.

A decision on the wind farm plan will be given by the Secretary of State

Mr Drax said: "The crux is there are other places to put this wind farm, Navitus bay has been controversial, flawed and deeply unpopular right from the start."

Michael Tomlinson, the Conservative MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole said: "This issue affects the whole of Dorset and importantly the industry of tourism will be affected if this goes ahead."

The Energy and Climate Change Minister Andrea Leadsom said the government had a duty to "keep the lights on".

To do so required an energy strategy with a broad mix of generation, she said.

'Rigorous and fair'

"It is for for the Secretary of State as decision maker to consider all the arguments that are made for and against these projects," she said.

"Consideration of the Navitus Bay application will be rigorous and fair."

So far, nine of the offshore wind farm projects examined to date by the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change have received development consent.

Navitus Bay claims the farm could generate enough power for up to 700,000 homes, if it goes ahead.

The firm said the project would boost the area's economy by £1.6bn ($2.5bn) and would create about 1,700 jobs during the four-year construction period and 140 permanent jobs locally.