The seas surrounding the UK host the majority of Europe’s offshore wind farms (OWFs), with the North Sea emerging as a central hub for development. As global energy demand increases, the UK’s offshore wind capacity is expected to expand nearly fivefold from 2020–2030. This rapid growth will bring widespread changes to benthic ecosystems, primarily through the transformation of soft sediment seabeds into hard substrate habitats. This systematic literature review examines the ecological impacts of OWF development on seafloor habitats in UK waters across the lifecycle of OWFs: construction, operation, and decommissioning. Findings indicate that the operational phase is generally associated with ecological gains, including increases in abundance, biomass biodiversity and food provision. However, this phase also presents challenges such as invasive non-native species. The construction and decommissioning phases impose more acute negative pressures, including seafloor disturbance, habitat loss and the renewed fishing pressures. These lifecycle stages remain underrepresented in UK-based research. Future policy should consider prohibiting fishing within OWF boundaries and implementing standardised decommissioning protocols retaining habitat-forming infrastructure to advance marine conservation in the face of climate change.