North East Offshore Wind Programme: Overview
The North East Mayoral Strategic Authority (North East MSA) has a mission to grow as the Home of the Green Energy Revolution. To deliver on this mission the North East Offshore Wind Infrastructure Programme will secure the once-in-a-generational opportunity that offshore wind provides the region, unlocking economic growth and high quality green jobs.
The North East Local Growth Plan highlights offshore wind and the energy transition as a key sector for the region. The North East has been active in offshore wind since the inception of the sector. The UK’s first offshore wind farm was constructed off the coast of Blyth in the year 2000, and the region is a national centre for offshore renewable energy technology and innovation. The Mayor’s Plan for Green Jobs sets out our ambition to double the number of green jobs in the North East from around 25,000 today to 50,000 by 2035 – capturing inward investment and enabling supply chain from the offshore wind sector is a key part of this ambition.
The North East MSA has allocated £19.5m of capital funding for the North East Offshore Wind Infrastructure Programme, with a focus on port and quayside infrastructure, in order to:
- Bring forward tangible investments that create jobs and growth in the offshore wind sector.
- Unlock the potential for accelerated growth – building on already world-class assets in offshore wind, subsea technology and the associated supply chain.
Open call for projects
The programme is seeking to develop a robust pipeline of investable propositions. The programme will look to fund the development of new infrastructure at ports and quayside adjacent land to meet the needs of the offshore wind supply chain.
Applicants are encouraged to propose projects which will create local jobs, unlock economic growth and prepare sites for offshore wind related inward investment and supply chain expansion opportunities.
A minimum North East Mayoral Strategic Authority investment of £3 million will apply to any single project. All project proposals will need to demonstrate at least 50% match funding from the applicant, although where a clear case can be made, other levels of match funding may be considered. We are expecting to fund 3-5 strategically scaled projects in the North East.
We particularly encourage project proposals to come forward which have secured funding from or align with the following investment opportunities programmes:
- The Crown Estate’s Supply Chain Accelerator and Supply Chain Investment Programme.
- The National Wealth Fund
- Great British Energy Supply Chain Fund: Offshore Wind and Networks
- UK government funding opportunities
For further information on the open call for projects and eligibility please see the full Applicant Guidance below.
Summary of assessment criteria
Projects will be assessed against the following key criteria:
- Number of jobs created (direct and indirect)
- Amount of economic growth unlocked and sites developed for inward investment opportunities related to offshore wind.
- Strategic fit with North East MSA objectives including the Local Growth Plan.
- Intensity of the grant request.
- Status of match funding (including public and private sector).
- Additional floorspace unlocked (m2).
- Deliverability and subsidy control risks
Full details are available in the Applicant Guidance, which should be reviewed before submitting a proposal.
Application process and timescales
The EOI call for projects will be open from the Monday 18 May 2026 to the Monday 8 June 2026.
To apply please email offshore.wind@northeast-ca.gov.uk