Port town potential windfarm site

Norman Baker said the windfarm could help regenerate Newhaven

A Sussex coastal town has a very strong chance of being chosen as the site of a future off-shore windfarm, according to a local MP.

The government announced plans last week to produce an extra 25 GW of electricity by wind power.

Lewes MP Norman Baker said he had a very productive talk with Energy and Climate Change Minister, Lord Hunt.

He thinks the depth of the water in the harbour and the need for regeneration made Newhaven the prime candidate.

Liberal Democrat Mr Baker said up to 100 jobs could also be created if the wind turbines were assembled in Newhaven.

'Very good prospect'

He said: "I'm pretty certain that Newhaven will be where the wind farms are closest to the coast, as it were.

"The government has decided this week formally to launch a document in which two areas of the Channel are identified for the development of off-shore wind and one of those is about 10 miles off the coast of Newhaven, between Newhaven and Brighton."

He added: "Initially I think they would be built elsewhere but the question is where would they be assembled initially?

"My advice that I have received is that there is a very good prospect of Newhaven being a centre for that, and I've certainly been lobbying for it.

"Newhaven has got deep water access, it is the closest port geographically to the off-shore location and also crucially there is space in the port for a major new endeavour.

"Those features don't apply to any other port on the south coast."