SHALLOW waters off the Sheppey coast will be one of three new sites for wind farms to help power homes in the South East.

Trade Secretary Patricia Hewitt announced on Monday that the Kentish Flats in the Thames Estuary, the Greater Wash near Cromer and the North West coast near Barrow had been earmarked as ideal environments for offshore wind turbines.

Wind farm developers will be invited to tender for sites in these areas which were identified by the Crown Estate and the Department of Trade and Industry.

It is the second round of leasing to be announced for offshore wind farm development. The first round, announced in December 2000, resulted in 17 proposals from developers, two of which are already being built at North Hoyle, near Rhyl, and Scroby Sands, near Great Yarmouth.

Round one should result in more than 500 turbines, generating enough energy to power all the households in Manchester.

The second round will be more ambitious, with each farm comprising hundreds rather than tens of turbines. The energy produced will have the potential to power every home in the South East and will help to provide renewable energy to one in six homes in the United Kingdom.

* An opinion poll carried out by the British Wind Energy Association showed that 74 per cent of bill payers supported the increased use of wind power, with 74 per cent backing the Government’s target to generate 20 per cent of electricity from renewable sources by 2020.