This milestone not only strengthens the UK’s long term energy security while helping to power up to 1.6 million homes with clean, renewable electricity. It also serves as a blueprint for how renewable energy developers and the shipping industry can work together through pragmatic, evidence based engagement – supporting the central role of well planned offshore wind in the country’s green energy transition.

For the Chamber, protecting navigational safety and maintaining the viability of established trade routes remain essential. Too often, the rapid expansion of offshore renewable energy has created pressures on maritime safety.

Outer Dowsing shows this does not have to be the case.

• Throughout the consultation process, the developer adopted a constructive and responsive approach – engaging with the industry and international operators through the UK Chamber.
• In particular, the Chamber recognises the meaningful engagement around the project’s northern boundary, which initially overlapped with key transit corridors for international ferry services and other strategic routes.
• Rather than pressing ahead unchanged, the project team worked closely with industry to explore amendments to the Red Line Boundary.
• This collaborative process delivered tangible outcomes, including the creation of an Offshore Restricted Build Area (ORBA) and measurable adjustments to the site design.

As the UK moves towards its 2030 offshore wind ambitions and beyond, pressures on the UK’s Exclusive Economic Zone will continue to grow. It is therefore vital that future seabed leasing is approached with strategic oversight from the earliest stages.

The success of Outer Dowsing demonstrates that when developers treat navigational stakeholders as genuine partners, balanced and mutually beneficial outcomes are achievable. At the project level, this process shows that early engagement, technical flexibility, and a willingness to adapt layouts are key to delivering offshore renewable energy alongside safe and efficient navigation.

It should be seen as a blueprint for good practice - balancing navigational safety with the need to deliver large scale renewable energy projects capable of powering millions of homes and accelerating the UK’s transition to clean energy.

Greg Tomlinson, Head of Consents, Outer Dowsing Offshore Wind, said: 

The Outer Dowsing Offshore Wind team would like to thank the UK Chamber of Shipping for its proactive and constructive engagement throughout the project’s development. Their early inputs and sustained collaboration were instrumental in helping us refine the project to meaningfully reduce navigational risk.  Working together enables us to achieve a balanced outcome that will safeguard vital shipping routes while enabling the responsible development of 1.5GW of renewable power, contributing to UK energy security.

The Chamber looks forward to continuing its constructive relationship with the Outer Dowsing team as the project progresses into construction and future operations.

Any queries or for more information on our work in this area, please email Robert Merrylees.