Plans have been approved for a new 172-turbine wind farm off the coast of Norfolk.

The 1,200MW East Anglia THREE offshore windfarm will be developed by ScottishPower Renewables. The company is currently delivering the East Anglia ONE project, which has a capacity of 714 MW and is due to be fully operational in 2020.

Overall, ScottishPower Renewables is developing four projects in total in the area, with a capacity of 3,500 MW.

The East Anglia THREE scheme will require:

• Up to four offshore collector stations and up to two offshore converter station platforms

• Up to one offshore platform housing accommodation facilities

• Subsea inter-array cables between the wind turbines and converter station and collector station platforms

• Up to four subsea export cables to transmit electricity from the offshore platforms to shore

• Up to four interconnector cables between the East Anglia ONE and East Anglia THREE Projects

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• Landfall at Bawdsey with onshore transition pits to join the offshore and onshore cables

• Up to four onshore underground cables pulled through existing ducting to be laid by East Anglia ONE, running for approximately 37 km from landfall to the connection point at Bramford, Suffolk, with jointing pits, to transmit electricity to a new onshore transformer substation

• An onshore transformer substation at Bramford, Suffolk, to connect the offshore windfarm to the National Grid

With planning approval now granted by Business Secretary Greg Clark, ScottishPower Renewables's Chief Executive Officer Keith Anderson said: "Offshore wind has delivered on its promises from the outset. Our sector has met every technical and political challenge, grown the UK's supply chain, and improved the technology at a rapid pace to allow projects to be deployed in ever harsher conditions. At the same time, the level of cost reductions achieved would more commonly be seen in consumer electronics.

"In a little over a decade, our sector has delivered substantial amounts of green electricity for the UK, supported billions of pounds of UK investment and created thousands of high quality jobs.

"With the support of a highly-skilled supply chain, East Anglia THREE will further enhance the UK's leading position in offshore wind."

RenewableUK's Executive Director, Emma Pinchbeck, said: "This huge clean energy project is a great example of how offshore wind can enable  the Government's Industrial Strategy. The project is expected to create thousands of skilled jobs throughout its 30-year lifetime. Not only will the wind farm use the latest, innovative turbines, but it will also provide a massive boost for local businesses to grow."

(LM)