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Planning consent granted for 4 GW of UK offshore wind
26/5/2026
News
The 3 GW Dogger Bank South wind farm and 1 GW North Falls projects have received planning consent from the UK government. Dogger Bank South is a joint venture between RWE, holding a 51% stake, and Masdar, which owns 49%. Both companies welcomed the government’s decision, noting that the approval removes a key barrier for the co-located sites.
The Dogger Bank installations will be located over 100 km off the north-east coast of England. The development consists of two 1.5 GW projects: Dogger Bank South East and Dogger Bank South West. The government has also granted a development consent order (DCO) for the 1 GW North Falls offshore wind farm, an extension to the existing Greater Gabbard project being developed as a joint venture between RWE and SSE.
Together, they will provide 4 GW of installed capacity, which the developers said will generate enough electricity to power about four million average UK homes each year. According to industry association RenewableUK, this decision provides a boost to the UK’s energy security, with the combined capacity of these projects equivalent to a quarter of the UK’s entire current operational offshore wind fleet.
Dogger Bank South advanced financially this year through the UK’s renewable subsidy framework. In January 2026, both projects secured contracts for difference (CfD) from the UK government during Allocation Round 7 (AR7). With planning permission granted, RWE and Masdar stated they will now complete the final design and procurement, aiming to reach a final investment decision in 2027.
The North Falls project will be located approximately 40 km from the East Anglia coast at its nearest point and would be an extension to the existing 504 MW Greater Gabbard offshore wind farm. The DCO allows for the construction of up to 57 wind turbine generators, their associated foundations and up to two offshore substation platforms and associated foundations. Following the DCO, the project will fine tune its designs in order to determine the final installed capacity. The project will target a future CfD in advance of a final investment decision.
Deployment slowdown and grid targets
These approvals occur amid warnings from energy sector representatives about the pace of deployment. The 2026 Wind Insight report by trade association Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) states the UK must install at least 5 GW of new offshore wind capacity each year to reach the government’s clean power targets. Current projections show the UK will reach just over 30 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030, which the report noted is well below the government’s target of 43 GW by the end of the decade.
The report recommends that the government increases the capacity awarded in upcoming subsidy auctions, targeting up to 7 GW in Allocation Round 8 (AR8). This target, OEUK stated, aims to keep projects affordable and secure the required volume.
Second, the report warns that new wind farms cannot deliver electricity unless the domestic grid keeps pace with offshore construction. OEUK says that all planned grid upgrades must be completed by 2028 to unlock projects in development.
Third, OEUK backs a fixed schedule of annual auctions to deliver at least 5 GW per year from 2026 to 2030. Thibaut Cheret, OEUK’s Wind and Renewables Manager, said that a clear timetable helps supply chains plan investments, keep skilled jobs, reduce costs and position the UK to export offshore expertise.
