A new offshore wind farm with a capacity of 1,200MW is planned to be built in the UK.

ScottishPower Renewables announced it has submitted plans to build the project located off the coast of Suffolk.

The East Anglia THREE development will consist of 172 turbines which are expected to power more than 850,000 homes annually.

The company claims the project would create up to 4,800 jobs, representing more than £400 million for the country’s economy.

If the planning application is approved by the National Infrastructure team the wind farm is scheduled to start operating in 2023.

ScottishPower is currently developing the East Anglia ONE offshore wind farm which is expected to have a capacity of 714MW.

It awarded Siemens a contract to supply turbines for the project from its new factory in Hull.

Keith Anderson, CEO of ScottishPower Renewables said: “The offshore wind industry in the UK now benefits from more powerful and more efficient turbines. We have better vessels, more experience of working offshore, a healthier supply chain, a growing engineering skills base, increased capability to export our products and expertise around the globe as well as ever increasing investment in UK infrastructure. All of these factors mean that costs are reducing quickly and large projects are achievable.”

Research and development in the energy industry have been neglected in recent years in favour of the mass deployment of renewable technologies, said Energy Secretary Amber Rudd who added coal stations will be closed by 2025.