Dispute over ownership of sea bed threatens wind farm

The British and Irish governments are set to discuss a territorial dispute which has cast doubts over the building of a massive wind farm off the north coast of Northern Ireland, it was revealed today.

The Crown Estate last year granted a consortium – B9 Energy – a licence to carry out a study into the feasibility of building the wind farm on the undersea Tunes Plateau some five miles off the Co Derry coast.

Opponents of the scheme – including local councils on Northern Ireland’s north coast and in Co Donegal – have banded together to fight what they say would be a blot on the land and seascape and damaging to the tourism industry.

Up to 85 giant turbines could be built along part of the plateau – clearly visible from both the Derry and Donegal coasts.

The councils claim the licence should never have been issued by the Crown Estates since they may not even own the whole plateau.

The Department of Enterprise Trade and Investment in Belfast said today it was aware of the claims and Britain's Foreign Office was meeting the Department of Foreign Affairs to try to resolve the matter.

Coleraine Borough Council – one of the leading objectors to the scheme – said the latest revelation could blow the wind farm project off course.

Norman Hillis, chairman of the council policy and development committee, said: “The wind farm scheme at this location has already been discredited by its likely impact on this area of outstanding natural beauty.

“To find that this proposal has been advanced on what appears to be a misfounded basis of ownership of the seabed is mind-boggling.”

B9 Energy said it remained committed to the project and would continue with its feasibility study.

Spokesman Mike Harper said: “The issue of ownership of Tunnes Plateau is a separate one and our job is to determine whether the site is suitable for wind farm development.”