Guidance

Offshore wind: compensating for environmental harm

Understand how to compensate for environmental harm caused by offshore wind projects.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Published: 21 May 2026

Documents

Part 1: When and how to compensate for environmental harm (offshore wind)

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Part 2: Compensation hierarchy and evidence required (offshore wind)

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Details

This guidance applies to offshore wind and associated projects that are expected to adversely affect certain protected marine sites.

Part 1 explains:

• which plans and projects must provide compensation
• how to get advice
• how to identify appropriate compensation measures
• using the Marine Recovery Fund
• other considerations that may affect compensation

Part 2 gives more detailed guidance on:

• using the compensation hierarchy
• providing appropriate evidence in a compensation proposal

The compensation hierarchy is also published as statutory guidance, as required by both:

• regulation 68ZA of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017
• regulation 36A of the Conservation of Offshore Marine Habitats and Species Regulations 2017

Published 21 May 2026