PLANS to build a new offshore wind farm off the coast of Barrow have been announced.

Six proposed new offshore wind projects in the waters around England and Wales have been announced by the Crown Estate as part of its Round 4 leasing round for offshore wind.

The six projects together represent just under 8 GW of potential new offshore wind capacity, which could deliver electricity for more than seven million homes.

BP and EnBW secured two sites - one situated off the Northern Welsh Coast and the other located off the coast of Barrow.

These two sites also have the potential to host up to 1500 MW of wind capacity.

Once operational, this generating capacity would be sufficient to power more than 3.4 million UK households with clean electricity.   

Green Investment Group and Total were also successful in securing a site off the Lincolnshire Coast, East of the Humber Estuary which could support 1500 MW.

Offshore Wind Limited also secured a small area off the Lancashire Coast, West of Blackpool and South West of Morecambe Bay which could host 480 MW off offshore wind.

Frank Mastiaux, chief executive of EnBW, said: “We are delighted with this auction win in a tough international bidder field.

"The award confirms that bp and EnBW are the right partners with the right strategy and the right capabilities. EnBW is among today’s leaders in advanced offshore wind technology."