The move also marks the first approved phase of the Dogger Bank zone, which includes a total of six sites with an estimated capacity of up to 7.2GW.
The Dogger Bank Creyke Beck project involves two separate 1.2GW offshore wind farms, A and B, each featuring up to 200 turbines.
Capable of creating 4,750 jobs over the 25-year operational life, the Dogger Bank Creyke Beck project will commence a pre-construction phase following which the final investment decision will be made.
UK Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Davey said: "This development has the potential to support hundreds of green jobs and power up to 2 million homes.
"Making the most of Britain’s home grown energy is creating jobs and businesses in the UK, getting the best deal for consumers and reducing our reliance on foreign imports. Wind power is vital to this plan, with £14.5 billion invested since 2010 into an industry which supports 35,400 jobs."
Located 131km from the UK coast, the two wind farms will be connected into the existing Creyke Beck substation near Cottingham, in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
Expected to be one of the largest power generators in the UK upon completion, the Dogger Bank Creyke Beck project can generate 8TWh of green energy annually.
RenewableUK Offshore Renewables director Nick Medic said: "The Dogger Bank projects now in planning could supply around 5% of UK electricity."
A final six-week judicial review period was carried out for the project as part of the consent process.
Image: A map of the UK’s Dogger Bank Creyke Beck offshore wind farm in North Sea. Photo: courtesy of Forewind.
