REVISED plans to win over public support for a new biomass power station at Southampton docks will add £10m to the project costs, it has been revealed.

The figure is revealed as residents voiced their opinions on the latest designs for the power station released yesterday.

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

Helius went back to the drawing board last year after protests from residents in Millbrook and Freemantle, who were horrified at the prospect of a 100m-high chimney stack and other buildings towering over their homes. But most residents said they were still opposed to the project – whatever it looks like.

The firm announced in March that the proposed site of the 100-megawatt plant 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.