Wed 30 / 05 / 12
Chamber responds to E.ON Rampion Consultation
E.ON have bought the development rights to a patch of seabed off the coast of Sussex.
They are planning to develop an Offshore Wind Farm which will sit 13km off the coast and which will generate 700MW of electricity. You can read more on E.ON’s website.
The Chamber was asked to be part of the Business and Tourism Project Liaison Group and also attended the Consultation Launch and Brighton Public Exhibition.
As a member of the Green Chamber Collective I headed up the Chamber’s response to the consultation. With my business hat on I focused on the proposed benefits for local businesses.
Here is an extract from our response to the consultation:
I’d love to see local businesses and the community being able to be involved in the Rampion development. But, could we take it one step further, a Brighton Wind Turbine, owned by the city? Now that’s an idea…
By Danni Craker, Craker Business Solutions
They are planning to develop an Offshore Wind Farm which will sit 13km off the coast and which will generate 700MW of electricity. You can read more on E.ON’s website.
The Chamber was asked to be part of the Business and Tourism Project Liaison Group and also attended the Consultation Launch and Brighton Public Exhibition.
As a member of the Green Chamber Collective I headed up the Chamber’s response to the consultation. With my business hat on I focused on the proposed benefits for local businesses.
Here is an extract from our response to the consultation:
- As a body representing local businesses we endorse your approach “to identify potential opportunities for companies in the region”. We would welcome the opportunity to be involved in this process. We recommend early communication of the types of suppliers required for the project, in order local businesses can identify opportunities early. We also recommend E.ON and their contractors work with local suppliers to help them meet tender requirements.
- We welcome your approach to “use as much local labour as possible during all phases of the project”. We recommend you explore apprentice opportunities and work with local universities and colleges so that local labour with the right skills is available to meet the project’s needs.
- We would welcome E.ON’s proposed investment in a local visitor centre. E.ON could also work with established boating operators to help them develop tourist attractions around the wind farm. This will add to the depth of tourist attractions within the city.
- We stress the need for E.ON to work with local businesses to avoid disruption to trade during the construction process. In particular avoiding main coast and inner city roads which already feel the stress of the high volume of traffic. The construction phase should take account of key events in the city which draw visitors.
- The beach, sea vista, and open spaces (such as the South Downs) are important parts of the Brighton and Hove experience. We therefore strongly endorse a thorough approach to identify construction techniques and routes which will reduce negative impacts on these valuable assets.
I’d love to see local businesses and the community being able to be involved in the Rampion development. But, could we take it one step further, a Brighton Wind Turbine, owned by the city? Now that’s an idea…
By Danni Craker, Craker Business Solutions
You might also like:
If you want to contribute to the Chamber blog, contact us on hannah@brightonchamber.co.uk