The Crown Estate intends to launch a new offshore wind leasing round in the first half of 2027.
Where will this new leasing round be and how big will it be ?
We believe this leasing round could accommodate a capacity of around 6GW or more, predominantly through fixed-bottom turbines off the coast of the North East of England.
The exact capacity and specific site details and locations are being refined through market and stakeholder engagement throughout 2026, alongside further work with the National Energy Systems Operator (NESO). This includes consideration of any potential impacts on key seabird species, important fisheries areas, and shipping and navigation interests.
In September 2026, we published a map showing how original, larger areas being considered for the new wind farms had been further refined into PDA Zones following a programme of stakeholder engagement.
A map showing these PDA Zones (highlighted green) is available below. The map also shows future pipeline leasing opportunities in the South West, Wales and other regions.
Further information on this process can be found here. If you have any questions about Round 6, please email Round6@thecrownestate.co.uk.
How is this different to previous leasing rounds?
This will be the first leasing round brought to market using our Marine Delivery Routemap. This new tool brings together data from the sectors we manage, alongside other important users of the sea such as nature, fisheries and shipping. It helps us plan how and where the seabed can be developed and gives greater long-term visibility about the future use of marine space.
The Refined Areas of Search for Round 6 were identified through the Routemap, and are based on extensive data, evidence and engagement over the last 18 months.
This is also supporting closer collaboration with NESO. We are aiming for Round 6 to be the first leasing round to be fully aligned with the UK’s evolving energy system through their Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP).
You can read more about this new approach here.
What does this mean for local communities?
The UK benefits from one of the most successful offshore wind markets in the world, delivering billions of pounds to the national economy and supporting 40,000 jobs.
Building on our approach to Offshore Wind Leasing Round 5, we plan to work with regional and industry stakeholders in advance to identify how the next leasing round can create new opportunities for communities, businesses and the economy in the North East and beyond.
Ongoing engagement
Through the course of 2026 The Crown Estate is continuing to work with industry, regional and nature stakeholders to refine the details and approach for this leasing round. This includes detailed engagement on the spatial design to identify the best sites for the new wind farms within the Refined Areas of Search and subsequent PDA Zones.
In May 2026, The Crown Estate updated prospective developers on its emerging thinking on the Round 6 tender process. Information shared is subject to change, but views are being sought from the market on a range of options across different topics including:
- The design and timeline of the tender process
- Working with regional and other stakeholders to ensure Round 6 creates the right investment into social, economic and supply chain opportunities
- The model used to create responsible financial returns from Round 6 for public spending
It is expected that final positions will be presented to the market later in 2026, ahead of the formal launch of the Round 6 tender process, which is anticipated in the first half of 2027.
Source: The Crown Estate
