An offshore wind farm which saw widespread opposition from a number of Island bodies has been given the go-ahead.

The Walney Extension has been given development consent by the UK’s Department for Energy and Climate Change and will see hundreds more turbines up to 200 metres high off the coast of the UK to the east of the Island.

The UK government says the 300 turbines will produce enough electricity to more than half a million homes, but the scheme attracted plenty of criticism in the Island when it was unveiled.

Chief Executive of the UK Planning Inspectorate, Simon Ridley, says objections were balanced against national policy and evidence the project was needed.

When the proposals were announced, a team of planning inspectors from the UK hosted a public hearing at the Villa Marina.

They heard airport staff voice worries over radar interference and Steam Packet representatives warning two lanes four miles wide would be the only way to navigate between the Island and the UK.

The Island’s Chamber of Commerce added its evidence, saying there’d be catastrophic consequences for local companies relying on ferry imports and exports.

However, none of that persuaded Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Edward Davey MP from following the recommendation of the Planning Inspectorate.