Plans for a wind farm off the Yorkshire coast capable of powering more than a million homes have been approved, two years after a planning application was first made.

Energy Secretary Grant Shapps granted consent for phase four of the Hornsea windfarm development, which will involve over 180 turbines around 43 miles off the coast of Yorkshire.

Danish wind power company Ørsted, behind the development, said projects, such as Hornsea 4, were key to the UK’s energy security and providing low-cost electricity and jobs. The company said it would review the development consent order before progressing the project “sensitively and sustainably”.

Photo: Ørsted

It is the second-largest wind farm to receive government consent, following the Hornsea Three project currently being developed.

Hornsea 4 is the first ever offshore wind farm to be examined alongside a derogation case including environmental compensation.

The Development Consent Order from the Planning Inspectorate can be read here