IT struck fear into the residents living near the western docks in Southampton.

The prospect of “monstrous” 100-mega-watt power station sitting just 125m away from the nearest homes in Millbrook galvanised a campaign of opposition from residents and city politicians.

But after angry protests last year, developers behind the proposed £300m energy plant now hope to ease public concerns with new images showing how it would look after it has been redesigned and moved back a further 125m.

A fresh 12-week consultation on the three different proposals launches today with a series of five public exhibitions taking places in Southampton and Marchwood in coming weeks.

Helius Energy hopes to win over doubters by giving a full and detailed explanation of its revised plans, which it claims will make Southampton a leader in sustainable energy and help to reduce its carbon footprint.

Leaflets are being sent out to 25,000 households detailing the changes that Helius saysproves it has listened to residents’ concerns – and addressed them.

It says the costs of relocating the plant twice as far away from homes, involving the rerouting of a docks road, and the redesigned buildings will add £10m to the project.

The heights of buildings have also been reduced to 60m – about the same height as Redbridge Towers – however, the chimney stack will still rise up to 100m.

Helius said the new-look plant would have less impact on local views after the taller buildings were moved to the west of the site near the King George V Dry Dock.

Gaps have also been designed between the buildings to give views of port activity and shipping beyond the plant.

The company’s director Paul Brighton said: “We have worked hard to address concerns about the siting and design of the scheme that were expressed by the community during the public consultation last year.

“We are looking forward to hearing what people think about our new plans.”

The plant will generate enough electricity to power 200,000 homes, although it will go into the national grid and will not directly benefit local households.

It is estimated that up to 450 jobs will be created during its construction with about 40 more at the plant and 60 related jobs in Southampton once it is up and running.

In addition it will bring about £10m every year to the city’s economy, according to Helius’ estimates.

Now residents can have their say on which of the three designs they would want – but an overwhelming majority of those spoken to by the Daily Echo remain opposed to the project – whatever it looks like.

One homeowner dubbed the new plans “monstrosities,” while another said that any of the three new designs would create “an eyesore” on the city’s landscape.

Comments from the public consultation, which ends on August 3, will be considered before a planning application is made to the National Infrastructure Directorate of the Planning Inspectorate later this year. The city council will be formally consulted, but ministers will have the final say.

Public exhibitions (all running from 2pm to 8pm):

• June 12: Holy Trinity Church Parish Hall, Millbrook Road West, Southampton

• June 20: Marchwood Village Hall, Marchwood Village Centre, Marchwood

• June 26: Freemantle United Reform Church Hall, 257 Shirley Road, Freemantle, Southampton

• July 3: Marchwood Village Hall, Marchwood Village Centre, Marchwood

• July 5: Blighmont TA Centre, Millbrook Road West, Southampton Consultation documents can also be viewed at:

Southampton City Council Gateway, One Guildhall Square, Southampton

• Shirley Library, Shirley Precinct, Shirley High Street , Southampton

• Marchwood Village Hall, Marchwood Village Centre, Marchwood

Consultation documents can also be viewed at:

• Southampton City Council Gateway, One Guildhall Square, Southampton

• Shirley Library, Shirley Precinct, Shirley High Street , Southampton

• Marchwood Village Hall, Marchwood Village Centre, Marchwood