Planning & Consent

The project site was selected by Marine Scotland through the Sectoral Marine Plan to minimise adverse impact on other marine users and the environment while enabling the economic opportunities of floating offshore wind.

Once awarded seabed rights by Crown Estate Scotland, the project can only proceed if it is granted consent for both its offshore and onshore infrastructure by the Scottish Ministers and Aberdeenshire Council respectively.

The consents process involved undertaking detailed offshore, landfall, cable routing and substation siting studies to inform preferred locations for our offshore and onshore infrastructure. Environmental Impact Assessments were undertaken, involving detailed desk-based and site surveys and assessments. These, along with detailed plans of all aspects of the project, supported our offshore and onshore planning applications. These are now being considered by the relevant planning authorities and consultees, such as NatureScot, Historic Environment Scotland and SEPA.

Engagement and Consultation

Building Scotland’s clean energy future starts with strong local partnerships. Our commitment to community engagement runs through every stage of the project—from early planning to long-term operations.

Since securing the seabed rights in 2022, we have engaged extensively with residents across Aberdeenshire, as well as meeting with businesses and organisations across the region.

In preparing our consent applications, we hosted nine public events providing vital opportunities for local communities to contribute to the project proposals, to ensure they reflect regional priorities and deliver long-term social and environmental benefits.

Offshore Consent

Buchan Offshore Wind submitted its offshore planning application to the Scottish Ministers in August 2025, which includes applications for consent under the Electricity Act 1989 and Marine Licence applications under the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010.

Accompanying these is an extensive suite of assessments comprised of both desk-based and survey data collected and analysed through the initial phases of the development in collaboration with a range of stakeholders including NatureScot, Northern Lighthouse Board, and Maritime Coastguard Agency. The project has also worked collaboratively with Scottish offshore wind developers through our active participation in the North East and Eastern Ornithology Group (NEEOG).

Our full application and supporting documentation are registered on Marine Scotland’s website while the Scottish Ministers consider our application and our Interactive Digital EIA provides detailed information on our plans and assessments.

Onshore Planning

Buchan Offshore Wind submitted its onshore consent application for Planning Permission in Principle to Aberdeenshire Council in October 2025.

The application was informed by extensive engagement with local communities and key stakeholders who influenced both the project design envelope and the focus of our rigorous assessments.

Our full application and supporting documentation are registered on Aberdeenshire Council’s website and our Interactive Digital EIA provides detailed information on our plans and assessments.

Next steps

Once these important consents have been secured, our next steps will be to compete in a future Contract for Difference auction round, with construction expected to commence later this decade and first power in the 2030s.