Navitus Bay Wind farm KO'd by UK Government

The campaigners "Challenge Navitus" responded stating "This proposal was in one of the worst locations of all the new offshore wind farms and we are relieved that the government has agreed that the plan was ill-judged. With so many valid reasons for opposition, and unprecedented levels of objection, it would have been irrational to allow this scheme to proceed. The decision was based on the pros and cons of this particular proposal and should not be interpreted as a change in approach to National Infrastructure projects in general.

Challenge Navitus also commented that "We regret that so much time and effort has been put into examining a proposal that was clearly flawed from the outset and in a zone that should never have been included in the national offshore wind farm plan. We call on the developer to accept the government's decision and abandon its plans for good. "

It is the first time that permission has been refused for an Offshore wind farm since Docking Shoal and raises concerns that this further evidence of a change of UK Government attitude.  Its also a further blow to the Energy sector in general reeling from massive work force reductions in the offshore oil and gas sector due to collapsing prices. Pressure on EDF future plans also mount up as they have been trying to close the financing of  Hinckley Point C Nuclear Power station with their Chinese partners. This project, planned to be onstream by 2023 is facing a series of set-backs and by EDF's own admission is unlikely to be even close to being ready.

Following the announcement RenewableUK has expressed "disappointment"  in the Energy Minister's decision. They stated that Lord Bourne's refusal of the Navitus Bay offshore wind farm is a "missed opportunity" .

RenewableUK’s Chief Executive, Maria McCaffery, said: “It’s deeply disappointing that Navitus Bay has been refused consent. This is a missed opportunity as it means we’re failing to capitalise on the UK’s superb offshore wind resource and the economic benefits it brings. Years of hard work and significant investment went into developing this project which could have added £1.6 billion to the economy of the region and created up to 1,700 jobs – it’s most unfortunate that that has now been lost."

“The offshore wind industry is still determined to deliver the substantial pipeline of projects in UK waters which includes more than 5 gigawatts of operational capacity and over 13GW with planning permission.  We’re making good progress in driving down costs while the prices of imported conventional fuels remain volatile. We’re also bringing real economic benefits with 13,000 jobs and inward investment of over £1billion last year”.  

 
A very disappointed Stuart Grant, Project Director at Navitus Bay, said: “While we are clearly disappointed by today’s decision, we would like to thank the communities of Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and all our stakeholders for the high level of engagement they've shown in the project, including their responses to our consultations and during the examination process. During the past five years the project team has carried out comprehensive stakeholder and community consultation.

Grant added “We will now discuss the options available with our shareholders and update stakeholders in due course.”

There is a 6 week period in which a Judicial Review can be lodged.  However this can only challenge the decision process and not the rights and wrongs of the decision itself.

The options open to the developers are now limited exacerbated by the decision in early August by Navitus Bay to hand back the remaining, unused parts of the original wind farm development zone to the Crown Estate. This means that the parts of the seabed in the zone that have not been used for the application refused by the Planning Inspectorate are no longer be under the control of Navitus Bay Development Ltd.  Navitus Bay gave up the rights to 571 km², 79% of the original zone.

The Crown Estate originally awarded the development zone to Navitus Bay in 2010, as part of the offshore wind zone agreements for exclusive areas of search to identify projects. Navitus Bay initially submitted plans for a 970MW scheme, and also submitted a 630MW mitigation option during the examination process. Neither of these proposals used the full development zone.

Navitus Bay has always stated that it would not use the remaining parts of the development area and this Augusts' move means decisions about this unused area being taken away from Navitus Bay.  

Stuart Grant, Project Director of Navitus Bay, said: “Navitus Bay is very pleased to return 79% of the original development area it was awarded back to The Crown Estate. The project is committed to the two schemes submitted to the Planning Inspectorate and is currently awaiting a decision from the Secretary of State on consent.

Eneco and EDF's joint venture, Navitus Bay Wind farm was to be located off the Dorset and Hampshire coasts of England and west of the Isle of Wight. It was expected to help generate up to £1.6 billion of economic benefit to the local area and provide low carbon electricity for around 700,000 UK households.

For more information about the Navitus Bay offshore wind farm please follow the links provided.