North Falls Examination now concluded
- Examination officially concluded as of Monday 28 July
- Planning Inspectorate now has three months to compile a recommendation report for the Secretary of State
- Decision expected late January 2026
- Examination included four hearings, an accompanied site inspection and preliminary meeting, as well as the submission of around 300 documents and nearly 500 questions answered
The Examination period for North Falls Offshore Wind Farm officially concluded on 28 July 2025, marking a significant milestone in the Project’s ambition to deliver clean, renewable energy for hundreds of thousands of UK homes and businesses.
This follows an extensive and robust examination of our Development Consent Order (DCO) application conducted by a five-person Examining Authority appointed by the Planning Inspectorate. Examination took place over six months and included four hearings and the submission of hundreds of documents.
What happens now?
The Planning Inspectorate now has three months to compile a report and make a recommendation to the Secretary of State.
The Secretary of State will then have a further three months to reach a decision as to whether to grant development consent. We expect a decision to be made in late January 2026.
If the DCO is granted, the Project is able to proceed, subject to securing a contract for difference (CfD) and final investment decision (FID).
More information
Further information is available via our Project page on the Planning Inspectorate’s website, including the recordings and transcripts from all of the Examination hearings:
• Issue Specific Hearing 1 and 2;
• Open Floor Hearing 1 ; and
• Compulsory Acquisition Hearing.
Our Closing Statement provides a final evaluation of North Falls’ application, including an up-to-date position on the principal issues identified by the Examining Authority, as well as other concerns raised throughout the Examination process. It also summarises the Applicant’s case, as detailed in the application documents, hearings and Statements of Common Ground, without introducing any new information. Additionally, it provides North Falls’ position on unresolved matters with interested parties and underscores the needs, benefits, and overarching justification for the Project.
You can register for Project updates here.
