The plan comprises up to 194 wind turbines and associated onshore and offshore infrastructure.

The project would be located approximately 17km off Scratchell’s Bay, south of the Needles on the Isle of Wight, and 14km from Durlston Head, on the Isle of Purbeck, with turbines occupying an area of 153 sq km.

Plans for the Navitus Bay offshore wind farm have been twice reduced in a bid to minimise the visual impact from the shore, scaling back from a 333 turbine development in December 2012.