Regulatory Other

On 26 March 2026, the UK Secretary of State formally reset the statutory deadline for the Dogger Bank South Offshore Wind Farms Development Consent Order (DCO) decision, which covers both the Dogger Bank South West and Dogger Bank South East projects. The Planning Inspectorate’s project page records this as the latest update, explaining that the Secretary of State has decided to move the statutory decision deadline to 14 May 2026. This change applies to the decision stage of the nationally significant infrastructure planning process for the generating station application promoted by RWE Renewables UK Dogger Bank South (West) Ltd and RWE Renewables UK Dogger Bank South (East) Ltd. The update also notes that a statement confirming the new deadline for the decision has been made to Parliament, in accordance with section 107(7) of the Planning Act 2008. This provision governs how extensions to statutory decision periods for such applications must be formally communicated, ensuring transparency and parliamentary oversight when more time is required to reach a decision. The project information page further indicates that the project is at the decision stage and that the date set for completion of this stage is now 14 May 2026. This regulatory step does not itself decide the merits of the Dogger Bank South DCO application but formally extends the period available to the Secretary of State to consider the Examining Authority’s recommendation and all submitted evidence. The next key milestone will therefore be the issuance of the final DCO decision by the new statutory deadline, unless further changes are announced through similar formal mechanisms.