Ministers have today given the green light to the East Anglia One offshore wind farm - expected to be one of the largest in the world - which is expected to support almost 2,900 jobs and bring investment of more than £520m into the UK economy.

Based off the coast of Suffolk, East Anglia One, a joint venture owned equally by ScottishPower Renewables and Vattenfall, could support around 1,800 local jobs and pump more than £500m into the region's economy

Construction is expected to start in 2017 with the offshore installation commencing in 2018, with the developer estimating that generation will start in 2019.

East Anglia One currently plans to install up to 240 wind turbines, meaning the wind farm would be significantly larger than the current biggest wind farm in the world, the London Array, which is also in the UK.

Keith Anderson, CEO of ScottishPower Renewables, said: 'This is the largest renewable energy project ever to receive planning consent in England and Wales, and it is a significant achievement to see our plans approved, and an important step forward towards a final investment decision. Our project team has spent more than three years planning the details of this project, and consulting widely with communities and stakeholders across the East Anglia region.'

Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Davey said: 'East Anglia and the rest of the UK have a lot to gain from this development. The project has the potential to inject millions of pounds into the local and national economies, and support thousands of green jobs. Making the most of Britain's home grown energy is crucial in creating job and business opportunities, getting the best deal for customers and reducing our reliance on foreign imports.'