The Crown Estate has given the go-ahead for the extension of the Burbo Bank wind farm in Liverpool bay. The site, operated by Dong Wind UK, is one of five sites that have been given the green light to expand. It is thought the expansions will provide enough power for an extra 1.4 million homes. However, all the extensions will be subject to full, new planning applications. Maria McCaffery, the chief executive of RenewableUK, said the announcement gave “definitive and positive evidence” of the environmental and commercial viability of existing offshore projects.

The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) has launched a four-year programme to improve the delivery of reproductive health services in Tanzania and Niger. The €2.75m initiative, funded by the European Union, has been designed by LSTM and the seven project partners to highlight and address the cultural barriers which reduce the reach and effectiveness of existing adolescent reproductive health (ARH) services. Poor ARH has been highlighted as a major cause of morbidity and worsening poverty for poor people in sub-Saharan Africa.

Time is running out for North West businesses and organisations to enter the Northwest Business Environment Awards 2010, which close for entries at 5pm on Friday 14 May. The awards, now in their eighth year, are open to businesses of all sizes and sectors. There are six categories to enter, covering best practice, environmental innovation, the built environment, environmental leadership, media and communications and – new for 2010 – a Combating Climate Change award. The awards have been organised by ENWORKS and Insider is acting as media partner. Businesses can find out more about the awards by clicking here or calling 0161 236 6348.

Liverpool PR agency Mason Media has added two clients to its consumer team. It will provide a national and regional PR campaign for Eat the Chef, a video-sharing website backed by celebrity chef Simon Rimmer, and high-end dress agency The Closet, launched by Hollyoaks actresses Claire Cooper, Jennifer Metcalfe and Leah Hackett. Lucy Mason, director at Mason Media, said: “Eat the Chef and The Closet are perfect clients for Mason Media combining great business ideas and young entrepreneurs.”

A new website has been launched to help showcase the growth potential of Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle. The site, commissioned by Liverpool Vision, provides listings, business news, promotions and information for investors. “The Baltic Triangle is the last remaining city central area adjacent to almost every prime location in the city, which is ripe for development,” said Barry McGorry, senior development manager at Liverpool Vision. “Its potential is enormous given the quality of land and property available.”

An unnamed Chinese company is in talks with Peel Holdings about taking a “substantial stake” in part of the multibillion-pound Liverpool Waters development. Peel said the firm of architects was interested in investing in one of the first buildings in its £5.5bn scheme. Speaking at the Liverpool Pavilion at the World Expo in Shanghai, Peel development director Lindsay Ashworth said: “Forging relationships such as this is one of the main reasons Peel invested at the World Expo and we are pleased that this particular firm of architects is coming across to England to have talks with us.” Peel is the main sponsor of the Liverpool’s presence at the Expo.

Liverpool property consultancy Mason Owen has appointed Steve Barker as head of building consultancy. He was national president of the Association of Building Engineers between 1999 and 2000, and the founding chairman of the Party Wall Pyramus and Thisbe Club. Mason Owen managing director Paul Moran said: “We are delighted that we have somebody of Steve’s calibre to lead and develop the Mason Owen building consultancy team.”

Can Manchester’s Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI) be the attack brand the city needs to beef up its cultural offering? Insider property writer Neil Tague thinks it has to be. For his latest Tague on Tour column, he straps on his hard hat and peers into the building site that the museum's main hall currently is. “Cultural Manchester needs a big beast and logically, it has to be MOSI. It has the site, the heritage and the overall theme chimes with the ‘Original modern’ ethos espoused by the city fathers,” he says. For more from Neil, click here.

The latest addition to Liverpool’s largest office building is now open to the public. Cinnamon Café Bar and Lounge has opened in the atrium of The Capital, owned by property group Downing. Last December, Downing secured Liverpool’s largest-ever commercial letting when the UK Border Agency took 220,000 sq ft in the building.