Eneco, a company behind the 76 sq-mile (200-sq-km) project, will be holding public exhibitions during the following 18 months to give an opportunity to Hampshire, Dorset and the Isle of Wight communities to see the project plans.
The prospect of the wind farm is to generate power for between 615,000 to 820,000 homes a year. The Infrastructure Planning Commission as the body which rules on major national projects will take approval into consideration.
The focus of the consultation will be on offshore aspects of the project known as Navitus Bay what will ensure feedback on important viewpoints from the coastline and the impact to fishing, diving, recreational activity and commercial shipping.
The original proposals presented in March 2011 depicted a wind farm located 8.2 miles (13.2km) off Peveril Point at Swanage and 8.4 miles (13.5km) south west of The Needles incorporating up to 240 wind turbines.
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Offshore WIND staff, February 22, 2012; Image: eneco