Written question asked by Iain Wright (Labour) on Thursday, 24 May 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 4 June 2007. It was answered by Malcolm Wicks (Labour) on Monday, 11 June 2007 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Wind Power: Coastal Areas

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what objections have been made to (a) his Department and (b) other planning authorities to the siting of off-shore wind farms off the north east of England coast.

Answer: The two offshore wind farms off the north east coast for which consents have been sought are the Blyth development, which was built in 2000 and comprises two turbines, and the proposed Teesside project that would comprise a maximum of 30 turbines and which is the subject of an undetermined consent application.Blyth was consented under the Food and Environment Protection Act and the Coast Protection Act and the Department for Trade and Industry was not, therefore, involved in the decision-making process. Consent applications for the proposed Teesside development are being considered under the Electricity Act, the Food and Environment Protection Act and the Coast Protection Act. Objections to that proposal have been received by my Department, on behalf of the DTI and Defra, from a number of organisations and individuals. The objections will be considered by the Secretary of State in taking his decision on whether to grant consent for the project.

Secondary information