Nearly 1,000 objections have been filed against a proposal to bury a cable under a beach to connect to a floating windfarm in an area with several protected landscapes. North Devon Council is expected to schedule a planning meeting to decide on the controversial White Cross project in the next few weeks. The application for the onshore infrastructure of the 100MW windfarm, located 32 miles off the coast, was submitted by Cobra and Flotation Energy last year. However, due to local opposition, the project was put on hold to gather more information on its environmental impact. Planners must reach a decision by November 1 unless the deadline is extended.
This project is one of several offshore pilot initiatives for large-scale commercial renewable energy in the Celtic Sea. The windfarm’s eight turbines are expected to generate enough energy to power over 135,000 households. The proposed cabling route will start at Saunton Sands beach, run underground beneath a golf course, cross the Taw Estuary, and connect to the grid at East Yelland. The Taw-Torridge Estuary, Braunton Burrows, and Saunton Sands are all protected areas and home to diverse plant and animal species, making them important ecological sites.
Numerous organizations, including Natural England, the Devon Wildlife Trust, and the RSPB, have expressed concerns about the project. Braunton Parish Council has also voted against the scheme, citing potential negative impacts on the local economy and tourism. The Environment Agency has raised objections due to the risk of flooding in the area. Despite the opposition, the developers of White Cross have made alterations to the cable route to minimize the project’s environmental impact. They have also promised to implement measures to protect wildlife and habitats during construction.
The contentious project has divided opinions, with 999 letters of objection submitted to the council compared to only 28 letters in support. While opponents acknowledge the importance of wind power, they argue that the proposed cable route would disrupt the local community and environment. The construction process would involve significant disruptions, including the closure of part of the Saunton Sands car park and the creation of a temporary road through fields and marshland in Braunton.
The developers have assured the public that the cables will be buried underground and will not affect access to Saunton Sands once the project is completed. They have also committed to having an ecological supervisor on site to ensure that environmental management plans are followed diligently. Despite these assurances, concerns about the project’s impact on the unique landscape and biodiversity of the area persist. The fate of the White Cross development remains uncertain as stakeholders continue to debate its potential benefits and drawbacks.