The giant Inch Cape Offshore Wind Farm project has announced it has received consent from the Scottish Government to reduce the number of turbines at the site.
The new design will see the the number of turbines cut from the originally consented 110 turbines to 72.
Fewer turbines at the site will be a result of the project using taller, higher capacity structures.
It is expected to bring at least £558m and 858 jobs over the course of the project.
Developers Red Rock Power tabling a fresh proposal in August.
The existing consent, granted in 2013, is still valid for the proposed development, planned 9 miles off the Angus coastline.
Inch Cape Offshore Limited (ICOL) will compete in the upcoming UK Government consent auction later this month.
Ben King, offshore consents manager at ICOL, said: “The opportunity to propose an alternative design, which will see significant economic benefits and reduced risk of environmental impacts, is testament to how new technologies are continuing to transform the industry and bring improved benefits to the consumer.
“Securing approval is a key step forward ahead of our CfD bid and while our previous consent remains valid, the progression of our plans and work over the last few months very much focused around this new design.”
The Inch Cape offshore wind development is 100% owned by Red Rock Power through Chinese investment by SDIC Power Holdings, who also bankrolled 25% of the Beatrice Offshore Wind Farm development currently in construction.