Aspects of a tidal energy scheme were approved by the Isle of Wight Council last night (Tuesday).
The project’s lead said it takes ‘the Island into an era of renewable energy.’
The onshore elements of the long-awaited project will be subject to conditions, addressing what some local residents fear will become a ‘planning blight.’
Permission was granted seven years ago for buildings at Flowers Brook, Ventnor, but permission lapsed when the project was not started, due to funding challenges.
Perpetuus Tidal Energy Centre (PTEC) has now been granted permission for the second time, this time for land next to Southern Water’s pumping station.
Permission for a substation, control room and cable installation was among the last steps before installation and energy generation.
Local residents argued they had suffered years of planning blight and said vital details were still unknown.
In a statement read at the Isle of Wight Council’s planning committee meeting, Ventnor West Councillor Gary Peace said he had been broadly in support of the PTEC application for years, but added developers had ‘failed to answer and satisfy concerns’ about commercial viability and other issues, like noise generation.
Isle of Wight Council officers said the noise issue had been addressed in a report which suggested proposed mitigation measures would be enough to protect neighbouring properties.
After a site visit, stand-in planning councillor Ian Ward said the area would be screened off and would have ‘little impact,’ like the Southern Water buildings.
Cllr Ward said:
“This council rejected an application for oil drilling in Arreton. We need to be flexible. If we are going to reject fossil fuels, then we need to be sympathetic to green and renewable energy.”
PTEC plans to start work in 2023 at the site and wants to be operational by 2025.
It wants full production from 2026.
Councillors asked if a tighter time frame could be imposed – from three to two years – as well as a bond, to ensure the landscape is restored when the pilot project ends.
Officers said that would be ‘unreasonable behaviour’ and argued national tests were not met to enforce a bond. Instead, they suggested strengthening the construction management plan, including a stipulation that, once construction starts, PTEC will have two years to finish the project.
Cllr Geoff Brodie said he had an element of scepticism around the company, but the condition would go a long way to allay some of his fears.
The planning committee passed the application with eight in favour, none against and no abstentions.
Speaking after the meeting, PTEC chair Rear Admiral Rob Stevens said he was very pleased with the outcome as it meant moving forward.
He said he understood residents’ concerns over the project’s ‘uncertainty.’
He said:
“Be reassured we will continue to work with residents to make sure we do not blight the landscape and we fit in with what they have got. It is vitally important we go in harmony with the environment.”
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