Navitus Bay Mitigation Option Update 

Procedural decision on turbine area mitigation option announced

In November 2014, Navitus Bay Development Limited submitted an alternative proposal for fewer turbines that will be further from the Coast.

Existing application

On the basis of the information provided by the applicant and other interested parties, the Examining Authority has decided that the Turbine Area Mitigation Option does amount to a material change, but not to the point of constituting a new application.

The Mitigation Option can therefore be included in the examination as part of the application received by the Planning Inspectorate on behalf of the Secretary of State on 10 April 2014.

This decision recognises that the Environmental Statement is based on the Realistic Worst Case Scenario (RWCS), and that the Turbine Area Mitigation Option falls within that scenario.

Revised timetable

To enable affected parties and interested persons to fully engage with the process, the timetable has been modified by extending the deadline by which they can respond to any issues they may have concerning the Turbine Area Mitigation Option.

Interested Parties can respond in writing to PINS (NavitusBay@infrastructure.gsi.gov.uk) to express their views on the Turbine Area Mitigation Option by Thursday, 5 February. The Examiners have agreed that those who did not initially register as Interested Parties can also make written representations, provided they relate only to the Mitigation Option.

Read the Examiners letter and revised timetable

Key characteristics

The key characteristics of the Mitigation Option are:

• A generating capacity of up to 630MW (the application has a capacity of up to 970MW).
• A range of turbines between 76 x 8MW and 105 x 6MW (the RWCS for ES seascape/landscape/visual purposes assessed in the application is a range of turbines between 121 x 8MW and 194 x 5MW). 
• A reduced turbine area from 153km2 to 79km2. 
• Movement further south of the north west and north east boundaries of the turbine area.
• The full onshore 40m working width would still be required along the trenched cable route but wherever possible would be reduced to 34m.

Next steps

Over the past twelve years the RYA has worked with the maritime community, notably the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, the General Lighthouse Authorities, the Chamber of Shipping, and the UK Major Ports Group in an effort to limit the impact of offshore renewable developments on the navigational rights and safety of recreational boating.

The RYA will continue to be closely involved in the Planning Inspectorate’s examination process as it moves forward.

You can read more on the planning stages here.