Top brass briefed on giant offshore wind farm scheme

COUNCIL chiefs from across North Yorkshire have attended an event to drive forward plans to build the world’s largest offshore wind farm off the county’s coast.

The event was organised by offshore wind developers Forewind, a consortium of international energy firms, at Scarborough Spa.

The Dogger Bank development, off Hornsea, which is expected to include about 2,600 giant turbines each up to 400ft tall, will stretch across an area equivalent to the size of North Yorkshire.

The first turbines are due to become operational in 2016.

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During the event, Forewind presented an outline of the overall project and undertook consultation on the first project known as Dogger Bank – Creyke Beck, a proposed offshore wind farm development which will connect into the existing Creyke Beck substation near Cottingham in East Yorkshire.

Coun Derek Bastiman, deputy leader of Scarborough Borough Council, said: “We brought together stakeholders from throughout the region with council representatives from Scarborough, Ryedale and the wider North Yorkshire area.

“We are very grateful to Forewind for giving us this opportunity to be involved in the project.

“Through projects such as the Dogger Bank development, the UK has the opportunity to be the lead nation in offshore wind renewable energy and the Yorkshire and Humber region can be at the heart of this exciting new industry.

“By working together, offshore wind has the capacity to create employment for tens of thousands of people and significantly develops economic growth opportunities in our region.”