Community
DBS has the potential to create significant opportunities for the local area and wider region.
Community
We are already working closely with local communities to ensure that we communicate clearly and in a timely manner about our activities, hosting regular Local Liaison Committees with Parish Council representatives. Our aim is to ensure that activities related to DBS cause the least possible inconvenience to local communities as the project progresses.
Community Benefit Package
As part of our development plans, we’re developing a community benefits package. This will include a Community Fund worth up to £1.06m, based on UK Government guidance of £530,000 per onshore converter station and subject to DBS being built. The guidance recommends that community funds are delivered within 15 years from the start of construction, with delivery and administration costs funded separately.
The proposed fund is part of the wider DBS community benefit package. Its purpose is to create positive local benefits, shaped by the people and communities hosting the onshore converter stations. The wider package is also expected to support skills, employment and supply chain opportunities.
Consultation
To help us shape the proposed fund and to identify what matters most to local communities, we invited residents to take part in a consultation to tell us about the kind of projects a fund might support and which communities the fund could benefit. Between 27 January and 27 March 2026, 551 local residents responded to our consultation survey online, by post and through in-person events in Little Weighton and Walkington. Learn more about this initial consultation in our blog.
Our Consultation Report details what people told us in regard to priorities, the proposed fund structure and guidance alignment. Page 15 of this report sets out our suggested next steps, informed by feedback received to our consultation earlier this year.
In summary, the strongest messages were clear:
- People value the landscape, the ‘East Riding way of life’ and strong local communities.
- The most popular priorities were environment and nature projects, activities for young people, sports and leisure, community buildings and community transport.
- There was strong support for an experienced local grant-making charity to administer the fund, with funding decisions made by a community panel.
- People want openness, transparency, local knowledge and independence built in from the start.
- The fund needs to balance support for communities closest to the converter stations with a clear, fair area large enough to support meaningful projects.
We would like your thoughts on our proposed next steps. Click here and complete our online survey. Alternatively, you can provide feedback by sending an email (dbs@rwe.com) or writing to us: FREEPOST DBSOWF.
Please provide your feedback by 30 September 2026.
Community Fund next steps
- Share results from the first consultation and seek views on our updated proposals.
- Appoint an independent fund administrator and recruit a community panel.
- Finalise criteria and governance.
- Open the fund for applications.
- Report back on outcomes.
To find out how community funds have benefited other communities local to wind farm projects please visit the following case studies:
Public information day
We’re holding a public information day at Beverley Memorial Hall on 10 September. Stop by any time between 4 and 7pm to find out more about our proposed next steps for the Community Fund and share your views. We’ll also be sharing information about pre-construction preparatory works at the site of the onshore converter stations.
Education
RWE has a history of bringing education and employment to the east coast region. Participation in our education and training programmes boosts employability, helping people to compete for and win new jobs with us and across the wider offshore wind industry in the region.
Through DBS, we have already initiated a Primary School STEM engagement programme in 2024, which expanded to more schools in 2025. Find out more on our skills and learning pages.
Supply chain
Companies involved in the offshore wind supply chain are essential to the success of DBS and local and regional companies are well-placed to secure contracts on the projects in the future.
We plan to:
- Maximise potential for the benefit of local businesses;
- Create new, high-quality, long-term jobs;
- Support new skills development and
- Wherever possible, ensure that all local options are explored.
Find out more on our supply chain pages.
Other pages you might be interested in
Current status
What’s happening now and next
The story so far...
Catch up on the projects’ journey so far
Keep in touch
Get in touch and ask our team questions