England’s Energy Secretary has signed off a non‑material change to the Dogger Bank Creyke Beck Development Consent Order, made on 20 November 2025 and in force from 21 November. The update lets Dogger Bank A and Dogger Bank B be considered separately for approvals and enforcement, while reinforcing practical controls on noise, lighting and end‑of‑life duties.

For readers tracking the project structure, the consent aligns compliance with the phase companies: the former ‘Bizco 1’ is now Project 1 Projco for Dogger Bank A, and ‘Bizco 4’ is Project 2 Projco for Dogger Bank B. Handling each phase on its own terms should also smooth routine decisions around the regulated sale of transmission assets through the OFTO regime.

Noise is explicit. The consent retains a 35 dB cap at the nearest homes for converter station operations, measured outdoors as 5‑minute LA,r in free‑field conditions using the BS 4142 method. In practice this gives planners and residents a single, comparable yardstick when checking both A and B converter stations as they come online.

Why it matters: the World Health Organization advises keeping average outdoor night noise below 40 dB Lnight to protect sleep, with around 30 dB inside bedrooms for good quality rest. A 35 dB operational cap at property boundaries is a clear community safeguard that is straightforward to monitor.

Artificial light is treated with the same care. The order requires a written lighting management and mitigation scheme for the converter stations, approved by the local planning authority after consulting the statutory nature conservation body-typically Natural England for onshore works in England.

Good lighting design protects people and wildlife. The Institution of Lighting Professionals’ GN01 sets practical limits on glare, sky glow and light spill, while the Bat Conservation Trust and ILP’s 2023 guidance (GN 08/23) outlines how spectrum, intensity, shielding and timing reduce risks to bats. Expect these documents to shape Dogger Bank’s detailed lighting plans.

Residents should also notice quieter weekends. All standby generator testing linked to the onshore works is limited to 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Saturday, with none on Sundays or bank holidays unless the planning authority agrees in writing. That simple scheduling cut keeps peak rest periods protected.

On pollution prevention and water, the developer must secure approval for oil separators, bunding and an emergency plan at the converter station, with the Environment Agency consulted. These controls have applied since the original consent and now map cleanly to each phase as built.

Signal impacts are covered too. If the onshore works interfere with local TV or telecommunications, the promoter must pay for an independent investigation and any necessary mitigation under an agreed scheme with the council. The amendment clarifies who is responsible when the phases operate on different timelines.

Scale context matters here. Dogger Bank A and B together will deliver 2.4 GW into the grid via the Creyke Beck substation near Cottingham in the East Riding of Yorkshire. With clear standards on noise and light, the UK’s largest offshore wind build can expand while keeping day‑to‑day impacts in check.

Looking ahead, the consent keeps strong powers to require repair, removal and site restoration if offshore works are abandoned or removed, with consultation of the nature conservation body where appropriate. That decommissioning backstop remains an important part of long‑term environmental assurance.