THE next step needed to build the proposed �1bn-plus Dudgeon offshore wind farm 20 miles north of Cromer has seen the company behind the plan applying for the necessary official consents for construction and operation.

THE next step needed to build the proposed �1bn-plus Dudgeon offshore wind farm 20 miles north of Cromer has seen the company behind the plan applying for the necessary official consents for construction and operation.

Dudgeon Offshore Wind, a subsidiary of Warwick Energy, has made the applications to the department of energy and climate change and Defra.

Subject to a “yes” decision, company officials say they hope to produce electricity by late 2013, using up to 168 wind turbines.

They say the project could generate up to 560 mW.

The consent application includes a statement discussing the offshore elements of the proposed development.

According to the company, the statement concludes that the scheme would have a minimal impact on the local environment.

Further planning requests will be submitted later in the year to councils for the onshore elements of the energy project, plus another environmental statement.

Public exhibitions about the offshore works were held in Cromer and Sheringham in February, where 194 completed questionnaires saw 75.8pc of people supporting the project, 4.6pc against and the rest either undecided or giving no opinion.

Copies of the environmental statement will soon be made available for people to see at district and county council offices, public libraries and tourist information centres at both towns.