Draft Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy

Thank you for consulting Argyll and Bute Council on the Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy consultation.

Opportunities for the deployment of offshore wind technology are welcomed. The Officer strongly supports the W1 DPO to the North West of Islay.

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An advisory group will be useful to further inform regular iterative plan reviews, and is welcomed.

Satisfied with proposals and Project Steering Group members, as set out within the HRA.

In regard to the W1 DPO, it will be important to note and ensure that the operation maintenance, and services are located within Argyll, as this will bring important economic benefits, including much needed employment to the region. It will further secure a sustainable future for the communities that are in closest proximity to any future developments.

Overall, satisfied that a reasonable and comprehensive approach has been undertaken within the Strategic Environmental Assessment Environmental (SEA) Report.

Satisfied that the Baseline Evidence, Potential Effects, Characteristics, and Mitigation Available and Potential Residual Effects in W1 DPO have been thoroughly discussed and concluded upon.

It is agreed that spatial planning and array design at a project level will be key in contributing towards mitigation of any adverse impacts.

It will also be important to note that shore-based infrastructure for servicing developments, cable landing points, substations and connections to national grid will all have potentially significant environmental effects, and will therefore need an individual project level SEA/EIA/HRA, as any proposed project progresses.

The screening of all potential environmental impact pathways and mitigation measures have been undertaken to a satisfactory standard; the Habitat Regulations Appraisal has appropriately and thoroughly considered and assessed species and habitat feature sensitivities in W1 DPO.

Satisfied that a reasonable approach has been taken to conduct a thorough screening and appropriate assessment for the scoping in and out of all European/Ramsar Sites, and habitats and associated species: migratory and non-migratory bird interest features; mammals (cetaceans and seals); migratory fish and freshwater pearl mussel, and otter.

It has been noted that a proportion of the bird dataset, namely from Pollock’s and JNCC studies is over 20 years old. Further investigation and mitigation will therefore be required at the project level to avoid any unacceptable impacts on the Jura, Scarba and the Garvellachs Special Protected Area for bird species, which includes: seabirds, waders, ducks and geese.

Overall, satisfied that the Social and Economic Impact Assessment (SEIA) indicates that the W1 DPO region would have minor impacts to wildlife and socio-economics for the West Coast and Argyll in particular.

In terms of economic interests and potential impacts to shipping routes, commercial fishing, and marine recreational interests in particular, it will be important to liaise with; CalMac, the Northern Lighthouse Board, the Clyde Fishermen’s Association, and the RYA, to ensure that a detailed impact assessment is undertaken at the project level, as any proposed project progresses.

Overall, satisfied with the methodology, results and the considerations that have been included in the West region of the Regional Locational Guidance report.

Agree that the Sustainability Appraisal has thoroughly and appropriately assessed all pathways for each sector. Overall, satisfied with the methodology, results and the considerations that have been included in the Sustainability Appraisal.

Agree that there is potential for significant adverse effects on seabed habitats, marine mammals, fish, sediment transport and coastal processes, and visual effects within W1 DPO. However, it is noted that all pathways in W1 DPO have the potential to be mitigated at plan and project levels, either through spatial planning, array design or through turbine design.

It is further recognised that the implementation of the W1 DPO could have a significant environmental benefit in supporting the decarbonisation of the energy sector and aid the establishment of a secure energy supply in Argyll. It will also be important to ensure that the servicing, operation and maintenance bases are located within Argyll, as this will bring important economic benefits, including much needed employment to the region. It will further secure a sustainable future for the communities that are in closest proximity to any future developments.

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