July 17, 2014
England

Navitus Bay: ‘Significant impact’ on New Forest National Park

Wind farm 'impact' on national park | BBC News | 17 July 2014 | www.bbc.co.uk

A proposed offshore wind farm could have a “significant impact” on the New Forest coast, the national park’s authority has claimed.

The Navitus Bay wind farm off the Hampshire and Dorset coast would have 194 turbines, with an underground cable running through part of the New Forest.

It would be located 12 miles (19km) from the National Park’s coastline at Hurst Spit.

Navitus Bay has said research showed “majority support” for the scheme.

The National Park Authority’s Planning Committee said it was particularly concerned about the visual impact the wind turbines are likely to have when viewed from the park’s coastline at Keyhaven.

Chairman Pat Wyeth said the onshore cable route would also leave a “permanent scar” as there was no commitment to replacing trees along its route to a substation at Mannington, north of Ferndown.

Plans for the Navitus Bay development have received almost 2,700 interested representations.

The Planning Inspectorate said it was the highest number received for any proposed offshore wind farm development.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/07/17/navitus-bay-significant-impact-on-new-forest-national-park/