Approval Secured for 100MW Wind Farm Floating on White Cross Design
The White Cross floating offshore wind farm, a 100 MW project developed by Flotation Energy and Cobra, has received full planning approval as of August 2025. The project, located approximately 52 km off the Devon coast in the Celtic Sea, is set to make landfall at Saunton Sands beach.
The project's applications were subject to three rounds of public consultation, ensuring transparency and compliance with environmental regulations. The North Devon Council granted consent for the onshore elements, while the Marine Management Organisation issued a marine licence for the offshore elements.
The wind farm is projected to generate enough clean electricity to power around 135,000 households, significantly contributing to the renewable energy supply in the southwest of England. It will also aid the region’s goals for decarbonization and sustainable energy development.
Key details include the installation of between six and eight floating wind turbines. The offshore export cables will run underground about 8 km to a new onshore substation at White Cross, connecting to the existing East Yelland substation. To minimize environmental and social impacts, the project will utilize trenchless technology, avoiding disruption to sensitive ecological areas like Braunton Burrows Special Area of Conservation and the Taw-Torridge Estuary Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Sam Park, Senior Project Manager for the White Cross project, expressed gratitude to the North Devon Council, the Marine Management Organisation, and the public for their engagement and feedback. He stated that the decision to use trenchless technology will help deliver the energy transition in the southwest of England.
The project is expected to support jobs in construction, operation, and maintenance, benefiting local employment in southwest England. Furthermore, the project's plans will seek to spark the development of a specialised local supply chain, creating additional employment opportunities.
With full planning approval in place, the White Cross project is positioned to bolster clean energy supply and regional economic benefits upon operation.
The White Cross project, having received full planning approval in August 2025, will contribute to the renewable energy industry's finance by generating enough clean electricity to power around 135,000 households in southwest England. This initiative, set to curb carbon emissions while fostering regional economic growth, will also encourage the development of a specialised local supply chain for the renewable-energy sector.
