Charity has serious concerns about Array

The National Trust says it has serious reservations about the proposed Atlantic Array offshore wind farm.

The charity owns the island of Lundy as well as stretches of the North Devon coast.

​Now it has published an interim position statement on the plans for up to 417 turbines 14km from the coast.

It said: "While the National Trust fully supports UK renewable energy initiatives, it has serious reservations about current plans for developing offshore wind energy so close to shore in the Bristol Channel, with the potential for serious impacts on sensitive coastal landscapes and seascapes."

The statement says the National Trust fully supports a major increase in the UK's renewable energy generation.

But it says the Bristol Channel zone has not been shown to be the best location for the scale of development proposed by Atlantic Array.

The statement says: "This is a particular concern given the potential impact on some of Britain's most valued and environmentally sensitive coastline."

The National Trust says in Europe most offshore wind farms are further from the coast than the Atlantic Array, which is almost wholly within 12 nautical miles of the coast.

It says in Germany almost all offshore wind farms and those in the approval process are at least 35km from shore.

"The proximity to shore of Atlantic Array is of particular concern given the recognised significance of the coastline.

"As the Government acknowledges, the sensitivity of seascape is fundamental in informing how far wind farms should be sited offshore."

The National Trust says it will give detailed consideration to the full Environmental Statement for Atlantic Array when it is available.

A draft of that document is expected to be published in spring 2012.

But the National Trust says it is "greatly concerned" as to whether the planning process is sufficient to establish if the Atlantic Array - as currently proposed - presents the best option for the contribution it makes to meeting the Government's programme for offshore energy, and poses least harm.

The organisation said it would press for a robust evaluation of the capacity of the coast to accommodate development within the Bristol Channel zone.

"We see (our) position as essential to ensuring that Britain achieves its renewable energy targets without compromising local environmental value and without damaging the seascapes and landscapes that have inspired generations."