Pinsent Masons Advises on World's Largest Consented Offshore Wind Project

With a planned capacity of 4.1GW, Berwick Bank will be capable of powering up to six million homes and is set to be located approximately 38km off the Scottish Borders coastline. Once operational, the project will increase Scotland’s renewable energy output by 25%, marking a significant milestone in the UK’s transition to a low-carbon future.

Securing consent for Berwick Bank marks a major milestone in delivering the UK Government’s Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, which targets 50GW of installed offshore wind capacity within the next five years. With this approval, the UK now has sufficient offshore wind projects consented to meet its 2030 target—an important step forward in accelerating the country’s transition to clean energy at scale.

Pinsent Masons has supported SSE on the project since 2020, guiding it through an extremely complex planning process and a determination period that spanned over two and a half years. This included pioneering work on ecological mitigation measures and navigating one of the most ambitious offshore wind applications ever undertaken in the UK. Pinsent Masons teams spanned its consenting, property, regulatory, litigation and corporate teams.

The legal team was led by partner Gordon McCreath, supported by a multidisciplinary group across the firm including Senior Associates Amy Stirling and Imogen Dewar.

Gordon McCreath said, “Securing consent for Berwick Bank marks a pivotal moment—not only for SSE, but for the UK’s clean energy ambitions. This project sets a new global benchmark for scale, innovation, and environmental stewardship in offshore wind. We’re proud to have supported SSE in delivering a development that will generate long-term economic value and play a transformative role in accelerating the UK’s energy transition.”

Over its expected lifespan, Berwick Bank is projected to contribute £8.3 billion in economic value to the UK economy.