New Offshore Windfarm Will Be Based In Lowestoft

31 January 2014, 11:13 | Updated: 31 January 2014, 11:29

The people behind the plans for the Galloper Wind Farm off the Suffolk coast have confirmed they will be based in Lowestoft.

The port is already the main operating base for Greater Gabbard Offshore Wind Farm and now it will become the home of the new Galloper Wind Farm which will begin to be built in 2016.

The old fish market in Lowestoft, adjacent to the existing Grater Gabbard offices are going to be converted into the new offices that will be needed.

The company haven't confirmed how many jobs it will bring to the area but say the are will benefit from "the multi million pound conversion" of the fish market and from the long term skilled engineering jobs that will be available at the port to staff the base. 

Confirming the decision, Galloper Wind Farm Project Director Bart Oberink said: “The ABP Port of Lowestoft has proved itself extremely capable as the base of the existing Greater Gabbard Wind Farm. We are delighted to confirm this port for Galloper Wind Farm.”

ABP Deputy Port Manager East Anglia, Roger Arundale, said: “This contract is a great vote of confidence for our port and the wider area. This contract, together with the decision to establish the O&M Base for the Greater Gabbard Wind Farm is a welcome consolidation of Suffolk’s ‘green’ coast acting as a springboard for investment and job creation in the locality.”

Member of Parliament for Waveney, Peter Aldous said “It’s great news that Galloper Wind Farm have confirmed that the Port of Lowestoft will be their operations and maintenance base. This long term commitment reinforces Lowestoft’s position as an emerging hub for the offshore renewables sector and will help bring jobs and infrastructure investment to the area.”

Galloper Wind Farm is going to be 17 miles off the Suffolk coast and will have up to 140 turbines.  That means when it's at full capacity it could power 330,000 homes.