A project like London Array needs a variety of planning consents and licences before it can be built and operated. These are needed both onshore for the substation, access road and changes to overhead lines, and offshore for the wind farm, offshore substations and cables. Different consenting bodies are responsible for issuing the various different consents and licences, as set out below.

A map is available that shows the jurisdiction boundaries for each of the authorities responsible for considering the application by London Array Ltd.

The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform is the main Government department responsible for administering applications for offshore wind farms. In reaching its conclusions it must work closely with other key departments and statutory consultees, including the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, (Defra). An approval from the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform is also needed to support overhead line works for the proposed onshore substation at Cleve Hill near Graveney.

Responsibility for granting planning permission for the proposed onshore substation at Cleve Hill (and the electricity cables from the onshore substation to the mouth of the Swale) lies with two planning authorities: Swale Borough Council and Canterbury City Council.