The UK government has granted permits for Dogger Bank South and North Falls, two offshore wind projects planned off eastern England with combined capacity of 4GW.
Dogger Bank South, developed by RWE and Masdar, is planned as a 3GW scheme. Its Development Consent Order application was accepted in July 2024, but the process was paused three months later while further documents were awaited. The review restarted in January 2025.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband had until 14 May to make the final decision, after earlier deadlines were moved in late April to avoid the run-up to local elections in England.
During the review, Natural England and the Marine Management Organisation called for a seasonal piling ban during construction. SSE, Equinor and Vargronn also raised concerns over potential wake effects on the nearby 3.6GW Dogger Bank complex.
Dogger Bank South is planned with 200 turbines and a grid link to National Grid’s proposed Creyke Beck substation near Cottingham. Full commissioning is expected by 2032. The project also secured a £91.20/MWh Contract for Difference in Allocation Round 7.
North Falls, a 1GW project from SSE and RWE, was submitted for DCO approval in July 2024 and accepted for examination the following month. The Planning Inspectorate completed its six-month examination on 28 July 2025.
The project is proposed 40km off East Anglia and will extend the operational 504MW Greater Gabbard wind farm. It is expected to be eligible for Allocation Round 8 this year.
North Falls will make landfall near Kirkby Brook, Essex, and is scheduled to connect to National Grid’s proposed East Anglia Connection Node substation by the end of October 2030. Its landfall location and onshore export cable corridor have been coordinated with RWE’s 1.1GW Five Estuaries wind farm, which was permitted in December.
