Wind farm scheme for Dorset is refused

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 £1.6billion 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

I have said from the very beginning that the Navitus Bay proposal would be bad for Bournemouth and bad for Dorset, threatening the UK’s only natural World Heritage Site and the tourism economy which is the lifeblood of my constituency.

I very much welcome the government’s decision to refuse planning consent, which vindicates my own long-standing opposition to the proposal, as well as that of many of my constituents. I have spoken in Parliament on six occasions on this subject, lobbied the Secretary of State in their own Department and put the case directly to the Prime Minister in No. 10. I am delighted that our case has prevailed.

While others were prepared to countenance this scheme, I opposed it from the very start. The developer should take note that we will fight any appeal with equal resolve. This scheme must now be at an end and the threat to our area removed forever.

The decision supports the recommendation made by the Planning Inspectorate and follows an examination process which met all the statutory timescales laid down in The Planning Act 2008 (as amended by The Localism Act 2011).

The application was submitted for consideration on 10 April 2014 and accepted for examination on 8 May 2014. It is the 43rd project to be decided under the Planning Act 2008 regime and is the 11th offshore wind farm application examined by the Planning Inspectorate.

Bournemouth Council welcomes the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change’s decision to refuse planning permission for the Navitus Bay offshore wind farm. The Council has argued strongly that the proposals would have a serious effect on both the natural environment and the local economy.

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.