The Crown Estate has announced that a major windfarm site in the Irish Sea will go back out to tender next month, with the goal of appointing a new developer by the end of 2026. The Morgan offshore wind site, located approximately 30 miles off the Fylde coast, was originally offered through Offshore Wind Leasing Round 4 in 2021. However, the initial developer withdrew in January 2025.
Site Details and Potential
The Crown Estate has spent the past months reviewing options for the site, which it believes could generate enough clean energy to power up to 1.5 million homes and create thousands of jobs. A competitive tender process is set to launch in July 2025, with a developer expected to be selected in late 2026. Further information regarding site conditions, tender procedures, and the commercial model will be released shortly.
Infrastructure and Approvals
The Morgan site is situated off the Fylde coast, with planned cable routes coming ashore near Blackpool Airport and extending to Penwortham, Preston. A Development Consent Order (DCO) for the windfarm was secured in August 2025. The project team is currently awaiting a decision on the DCO application for its transmission assets, which is a joint submission with the transmission assets of the 480MW Morecambe offshore windfarm. A ruling is anticipated in September 2025.
Separate from Leasing Round 6
The Crown Estate has clarified that the Morgan tender process is distinct from Leasing Round 6, which is scheduled to launch later in 2026. The Morgan process will not impact the timeline of that round.
Official Statement
Gus Jaspert, Managing Director of Marine at The Crown Estate, said: “Offshore wind is a key industrial sector for the UK, acting as a significant driver of clean, secure, domestic energy and economic growth, and Morgan can play an important role in advancing this national success story. We’re pleased to be bringing this site back to market, following considered assessment of a range of options, and look forward to securing a new developer to realise its potential.”
