The Crown Estate has identified zones for development, which after further review they expect to allocate to developers next year.

After this they will then work with the developers to identify specific sites within the zones. This allocation process will be based on the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) being carried out by BERR, which will examine issues such as the impact on wildlife and habitat, shipping lanes and fishing, with the zones being adjusted to reflect the SEA findings. Once the zones have been finalised the Crown Estate will co-invest with developers in the development process leading to planning. It is expected that by 2013 individual sites will start to receive planning permission, with the first phases of the new wind farms becoming operational in 2015.