Construction is underway at Newhaven Port on the operations and maintenance base for Eon’s 400MW Rampion offshore wind farm, which will be located off the coast of Sussex.
Eon said the facility on the east quay will be the base for a team of 60 full-time employees, who will operate the wind farm when complete.
The base will consist of a marine and wind farm control room, offices and warehousing.
The building is expected to be finished this year, with work on pontoons continuing into 2018, the company said.
Preliminary work to drive concrete piles into the ground in preparation for the foundations took place in spring and is complete, Eon said.
The base is located within the Newhaven Enterprise Zone, which aims to improve the economic regeneration of Newhaven over the next 25 years.
Architects Corstorphine and Wright designed the base together with the engineering firm Helmsley Orrell Partnership.
The quayside location allows for easy access to crew transfer vessels which will be operated daily to maintain the wind farm, Eon said.
Rampion development and stakeholder manager Chris Tomlinson said: “We’re delighted that Rampion’s investment in the facility is acting as a catalyst for the regeneration of Newhaven Port, helping to trigger associated economic benefits to the town while supporting the development of the Newhaven Enterprise Zone.”
Image: impression of the O&M base (Eon)
