Opening up the 10 Year Vision and Strategy for North East England Offshore Wind
Posted on 23 April 2026
Click here to read the full 10 Year Vision and Strategy for North East England Offshore Wind.
On April 1, a bold new plan for the future of offshore wind in North East England was launched…
The 10 Year Vision and Strategy for North East England Offshore Wind, focuses on the region’s role in defining the next phase of offshore wind industrialisation in the UK.
Commissioned by NOF on behalf of the North East Combined Authority (North East CA) and Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) the strategy was developed with support from Energi Coast, and authored by Everoze.
The document outlines targeted interventions to build momentum to effectively deliver offshore wind over the next decade. It outlines how the region can set the standard in full-system offshore electrical solutions and lead the development of deeper-water technologies.
The plan also emphasises the requirement for an efficient and coordinated port system, cutting-edge manufacturing capability, and a complete electrical systems offer spanning cables, installation, substations and grid integration.
“It will help shape our future direction, ensuring that we step up and we scale up to enable us to deliver on future projects,” said NOF Chief Executive Joanne Leng, as she unveiled the document at the Energi Coast Regional Supply Chain Showcase, in Newcastle.
The launch came just days after The Crown Estate announced their intentions for a future offshore wind leasing round in 2027. The identified area of opportunity, predominantly located off the coast of North East England, could accommodate a capacity of around 6GW or more.
Talking points
A vibrant panel discussion, chaired by Tom Nightingale, Local Supply Chain Manager (UK), Power at Equinor and Deputy Chair of Energi Coast featured a range of stakeholders and industry figures. Digging deeper into the document, they explored what it will mean for both the region and offshore wind in the UK.
The significance
Oscar Fitch-Roy, Partner at Everoze, described it as providing “really clear choices” about where North East England wants to position itself nationally.
Thomas Wildsmith, Head of Commercial at the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, the 10 Year Vision and Strategy, combined with the Crown Estate’s recent leasing round announcement, was a “starter gun” for North East England. “This gets the momentum going. That can only be good for the region, the supply chain and innovation.”
Strategic alignment
A major theme was how the 10 Year Vision and Strategy aligned with the UK’s industrial strategy, the national Offshore Wind Industrial Growth Plan and the Regional Growth Plans set out by the TVCA and North East CA.
“What’s really clear from the strategy is the sequencing that we get with the UK's industrial strategy and the nationally recognised industrial growth plan, through to the regional growth perspectives,” said Ophelia Maxwell, Head of Renewable Programme Delivery & Regional Development at RenewableUK.
In welcoming the vision and strategy Chris Rowell, Head of Net Zero at TVCA, said: “Offshore wind fits distinctly within our plans for being an energy superpower within the UK in the coming decades across a range of different technologies.”
And Ross Lowrie, Head of Clean Energy & Environment at the North East CA, added: “One of the five key missions in our Local Growth Plan was to be the home of the green energy revolution. The offshore wind opportunity is possibly the biggest opportunity for the region that there ever has been, and we're building our growth plans around it.”
The supply chain opportunity
Building on existing regional capabilities - and seizing future opportunities – are key elements of the 10 Year Vision and Strategy.
Panellists praised the document for highlighting the region’s strengths, from electrical systems and cable expertise, to training, testing, research and higher education facilities.
But for Ross Lowrie, this was only the start.
He urged businesses to not simply rule themselves out of the offshore wind supply chain because they didn’t see themselves in the strategy document.
And he added: “We need to be really ambitious. We want businesses to see their homes here and see how they can expand, and become part of something much bigger.”
