240-turbine Atlantic Array wind farm plans move closer
A company has been given the go-ahead to proceed with its planning application for a 240-turbine wind farm in the Bristol Channel.
The Atlantic Array project would be 13 miles (22km) off the Wales coast and nine miles (16km) from north Devon.
Developer Channel Energy Ltd previously scaled-back the number of turbines following a consultation period.
The next step will be publicity about the plan with interested parties asked for comments.
Secretary of State for the Environment, Owen Paterson, will have the final say over whether the scheme goes ahead.
Sir Michael Pitt, chief executive of the Planning Inspectorate said: "After careful consideration we have decided on behalf of the Secretary of State that the application submitted by Channel Energy Ltd met the required tests set out in the legislation to be accepted for examination.
"The applicant must now decided when to publicise that... [then] members of the public will be able to register with the planning inspector as an interested party in the application."