Minister for Energy Consumers (): This Statement concerns
an application for development consent made under the Planning
Act 2008 by RWE Renewables UK Dogger Bank South (West) Ltd and
RWE Renewables UK Dogger Bank South (East) Ltd for the
construction and operation of an offshore wind farm, made up of
two array areas (Dogger Bank South East and Dogger Bank South
West). The array areas are located entirely within the Dogger
Bank Special Area of Conservation in the North Sea, approximately
100–122km off the North Yorkshire coast.
Under section 107(1) of the Planning Act 2008, the Secretary of
State must make a decision on an application within three months
of the receipt of the Examining Authority's report unless
exercising the power under section 107(3) of the Act to set a new
deadline. Where a new deadline is set, the Secretary of State
must make a Statement to Parliament to announce it.
The statutory deadline for the decision on the Dogger Bank South
Offshore Wind Farms Project was 10 January 2026.
I have decided to allow an extension and to set a new deadline of
30 April 2026. This is to allow time to request further
information that was not provided for consideration during the
examination period and to give all interested parties the
opportunity to review and comment on such information. Whilst it
is not my preference to extend, I am clear that applications for
consent for energy projects submitted under the Planning Act 2008
must meet the necessary standards.
The decision to set the new deadline for this application is
without prejudice to the decision on whether to grant or refuse
development consent.
