Isle of Wight tidal energy farm substation outline plan approved

An illustration of how the turbines would look on the seabed

Plans for a substation near the site of a proposed tidal energy farm off the Isle of Wight have been given outline planning permission.

Perpetuus Tidal Energy Centre (PTEC) want to build a control centre at Flowers Brook, Steephill Road, Ventnor.

Outline plans were approved by Isle of Wight Council on Tuesday.

An application for the seabed turbines off St Catherine's Point is being considered by the Marine Management Organisation.

The firm said it hoped to start building the project in 2016 and have the tidal farm running by 2018.

The energy farm would lie about 1.5 miles (2.5km) off St Catherine's Point

PTEC claim it would produce enough electricity to power 15,000 homes.

The island's Conservative MP Andrew Turner has backed the idea and won support from David Cameron when he raised the issue during Prime Minster's Questions on Wednesday in January.

The scheme has been met with criticism from fishermen and businesses in Ventnor who claim it will damage shellfish beds.