Whitehall delays decision on 180-turbine windfarm project over worries of threat to precious seabirds

Puffin on cliff at Bempton

MOVES by energy giant Ørsted to extend its windfarm acreage off the East Coast have been stalled by concerns over the potential impact on puffins, guillemots, red-throated divers and other sea-dwelling birds.

The RSPB fears that installation by the Danish company of up to 180 more turbines proposed for its Hornsea Four project could hasten the decline of marine species to which turbines are like giant industrial 'scarecrows'.

The charity is particularly fearful of the likely impact on a breeding colony at Bempton, north of Bridlington, where it has one of its reserves.

By way of mitigation, Ørsted, which has an important base in Grimsby, has offered to establish a nesting platform off Whitby but these would probably only be of benefit to kittiwakes  - and there is no guarantee that they would take to them.

The conflict is causing a headache at Whitehall which has delayed granting consent for the development.

The Department of Energy has set the Danish company a deadline of midnight on March 9 to submit further seabird-safeguarding mitigation measures.

Secretary of State Grant Shapps is also seeking further input  from the Government's advisory body, Natural England.                                                              

Scarecrows in the sea - wind turbines strike terror into marine birds