E.ON has taken the next step in developing its Humber Gateway offshore wind farm by submitting a planning application to build a new substation on industrial land near Salt End.

The substation would connect the proposed wind farm, located approximately 8km off the Holderness coast, to the national grid via 30km of underground cable.

The application for the onshore substation follows applications last year for the Humber Gateway offshore wind farm to the Department for Energy and Climate Change and the East Riding of Yorkshire Council.

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Vaughan Weighill, Development Manager on the Humber Gateway proposal said: "This is the final piece of the jigsaw puzzle for this exciting project. We've carefully selected a brownfield industrial site, located as close as possible to the existing power network, to minimise any effect on local communities and residents in the area."

The plans also highlight the intention to use underground cables to connect to the grid, rather than any overhead lines, avoiding any potential visual impact along the 30km cable route from the coast.

If built, the wind farm could also displace the emission of up to 395,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year, the equivalent of taking 110,000 cars off Britain's roads.

If granted planning consent, construction on site could begin as early as 2011.

(CD/BMcc)