REVISED plans to win over public support for a new biomass power station at Southampton docks will add £10m to the project costs – but residents are still opposed.

Developer Helius Energy yesterday floated three possible new designs for a controversial £300m wood-fired power station ahead of a fresh round of public consultation starting next week.

But an overwhelming majority of nearby residents spoken to by the Daily Echo remained opposed to the project – whatever it looks like.

One homeowner dubbed the new plans “monstrosities,”

while another said that any of the three new designs would create “an eyesore” on the city’s landscape.

Previous plans for the 100- megawatt plant sparked outrage from Millbrook and Freemantle residents, who were horrified at the prospect of a 100m-high chimney stack and other buildings towering over their homes Helius went back to the drawing board last year. The firm announced in March that the proposed site of the power plant in the Western docks had been moved back a further 125m so it was 250m away from the nearest homes. And it said yesterday the redesigned plant is now “lower in height and has a smaller building footprint.”

It is estimated the cost of the relocation, involving the re-routing of a docks road, and the redesigned building would add £10m to the cost of the project.

But Steve Galton from the No Southampton Biomass campaign group said: “It doesn’t look like the main building has come down much at all [in height]. The chimney stack and the main building would still dominate the landscape.”

He said the lack of detail around the impact of the new designs on residential properties had left people “worrying again” ahead of the launch of a 12-weeks of public consultation on Monday.

He also said the firm had “disappointingly” ignored suggestions to better spread out the public exhibitions.

Helius is putting on five, three in Southampton and two in Marchwood. Mr Galton said two sessions, a fortnight apart, at four sites would have given more opportunity for the public to voice their opinions.

Helius planning director Paul Brighton said the firm had listened to residents and the three revised proposals “really addressed” their concerns.

He said detailed information about the scheme would be given during the “full and inclusive” public consultation so people could make up their minds “based on the facts”.

Residents will be able to influence which of the new designs is taken forward to a planning application due to be submitted in the autumn.

Labour ward councillor Asa Thorpe said: “As yet I’ve not received a stampede of phone calls saying how fantastic these new plans are.

“The single question that hasn’t been answered is what the benefit is to the people of Freemantle and Millbrook.

“In terms of the visual appearance you can paint it a different colour but it’s still a power station.

“Mr Brighton suggested we would have a landmark building design. This is certainly no Angel of the North.”

All political parties in Southampton vowed to oppose the proposals.

Outgoing Tory council leader Royston Smith said: “Regardless of the new images we still oppose the plans. It’s too big and will potentially damage the quality of life for residents.”

Steve Plumridge, former Lib Dem candidate for Millbrook, said: “I’m all for the idea of biomass but it’s got to go somewhere else. It’s too close to homes. I don’t care what the design is. It’s still going to look like a monstrosity”.

Helius says the plant would generate enough electricity to power 200,000 homes but it will be fed into the national grid rather than directly benefiting any local area.

The plant will fed by up to 800,000 tonnes of fuel, mostly wood shipped into the port, in a boost to the bulks business for docks owners ABP. Up to 450 jobs will be created during construction.

The plans will be decided by ministers after an application is submitted to the National Infrastructure Directorate of the Planning Inspectorate.

The city council will be formally consulted, but will not have a final say.