London Array Phase 1 offshore wind farm

London Array Phase 1 is a 630 MW offshore wind farm with 175 turbines in English waters. Its status in the Renewable Energy Planning Database (July 2026 extract) is: operational since 6 April 2013; the record was last updated on 6 November 2018. Its REPD grid reference is 26 km from the nearest postcode on land (CT9 3SE, Thanet). It was consented under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 by the Secretary of State for energy (REPD: DECC, the energy department at the time).

How it works ↓

Data: REPD July 2026 extract · calculated 7 November 2026 · Methodology and sources

630 MWoffshore wind farm

operationalstatus in REPD

6 November 2018record last updated

26 km from land (Thanet)REPD location

Consent timeline

Date	Stage
1 June 2005	Application submitted
15 December 2006	Refused by the planning authority
5 September 2007	Section 36 consent granted (Secretary of State)
5 September 2007	Appeal allowed
1 March 2011	Construction started
6 April 2013	Operational

Project details

Technology: offshore wind farm
Capacity: 630 MW
Turbines: 175
Turbine capacity: 3.6 MW
Status (REPD): operational
Record last updated: 6 November 2018
Operator or applicant: Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy
Consenting authority (REPD): DECC (S36)
Application reference: not recorded
Nearest postcode on land: CT9 3SE (Thanet), 26.2 km from the REPD grid reference
Time to decision: 118 weeks
Name in REPD: London Array Phase 1
REPD reference: 2511

Who decides

It was consented under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 by the Secretary of State for energy (REPD: DECC, the energy department at the time).

Postcode districts within 40 km

District	km
Margate (CT9)	27.6
Westgate-on-Sea (CT8)	29.1
Broadstairs (CT10)	29.1
Walton on the Naze (CO14)	29.9
Frinton-on-Sea (CO13)	30.1
Clacton-on-Sea (CO15)	30.5
Birchington (CT7)	31.2
Ramsgate (CT12)	32.1
Ramsgate (CT11)	32.3
Clacton-on-Sea (CO16)	34.0
Herne Bay (CT6)	38.3
Harwich (CO12)	38.3

Straight-line distance from the centre of each postcode district to the REPD grid reference of the wind farm, which is a single point for the whole site.

Other offshore wind projects within 30 km

Project	MW	Status	km
Gunfleet Sands II	64.8	operational	20.8
Gunfleet Sands Offshore Wind Scheme	108	operational	22.7
Gunfleet Sands - (Demo) Extension	12	operational	22.8
Thanet (extension)	340	refused	23.3
Thanet	300	operational	23.3

All offshore wind farms in UK waters

Status and dates as recorded in the Renewable Energy Planning Database (July 2026 extract); the database can lag behind consent decisions. Location: REPD grid reference (51.6217, 1.4958).

London Array stands in the Thames Estuary, about 26 km from the nearest onshore postcode in Thanet (CT9 3SE). The postcode districts closest to the farm's point in the REPD record are Margate (CT9, 27.6 km), Westgate-on-Sea and Broadstairs (29.1 km each); beyond that the Essex coast begins. That is a straight line from a single record point; the distance to the edge of the farm is different.

The application was submitted on 1 June 2005. On 15 December 2006 the record shows a refusal, and on 5 September 2007 two entries were made on the same day: Section 36 consent and “appeal allowed”, 118 weeks after the application. Construction began on 1 March 2011, and its 175 turbines of 3.6 MW each have been operational since 6 April 2013. The second phase, at 240 MW, is listed as abandoned. Nearby, Thanet (300 MW) and Gunfleet Sands (108 MW) are operational. Dates are taken from the REPD extract for July 2026.