Yorkshire jobs hope as offshore wind farm approved

Dogger Bank, in the North Sea, is the largest renewable energy development ever to receive planning consent in the UK and is predicted to generate hundreds of jobs and bolster the region’s economy. Ed Davey, energy and climate change secretary, has approved the Dogger Bank Creyke Beck development, which was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate by the Forewind consortium last year. He said the decision was “another great boost” for the region. He said: “This development has the potential to support hundreds of green jobs and power up to two million homes. “Making the most of Britain’s home grown energy is creating jobs and businesses in the UK, getting the best deal for consumers and reducing our reliance on foreign imports. Wind power is vital to this plan, with £14.5bn invested since 2010 into an industry which supports 35,400 jobs.” Forewind claim the project could generate more than £1.5bn for the UK economy. When it has been built Dogger Bank Creyke Beck is expected to be one of country’s largest power generators. Linda McAvan, Labour MEP for Yorkshire and The Humber, said: “Yorkshire is becoming a world leader in renewable energy and green technology, leading to much needed investment and job creation for local people.” The project is expected to support up to 900 green jobs. The Forewind consortium is owned equally by four international energy companies – RWE, SSE, Statkraft and Statoil. Dogger Bank, will be made up of two wind farms, each with up to 200 turbines. The wind farms will be located 80 miles from the UK coast and will connect into the existing Creyke Beck substation near Cottingham, in the East Riding of Yorkshire. Some opponents of the project have previously raised fears about whether the wind farms were in the best location as they will be offshore of some of Yorkshire’s best loved tourist resorts. Tarald Gjerde, Forewind general manager, said yesterday the organisation and its four owners were thrilled with the announcement. “Achieving consent for what is currently the world’s largest offshore wind project in development is a major achievement for Forewind and will help confirm the UK’s position as the world leader in the industry,” Mr Gjerde said. The rights for the Dogger Bank Zone were awarded by The Crown Estate, manager of the UK seabed. Huub den Rooijen, Head of Offshore Wind for The Crown Estate, said: yesterday: “The sheer scale of this project creates the potential for it to be built at significantly lower costs, presenting a powerful opportunity for economic growth and jobs.”