17. Infrastructure and Other Users

17.1. Introduction

  1. This chapter of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report presents the assessment of the likely significant effects (as per the “EIA Regulations”) of the Berwick Bank Wind Farm offshore infrastructure which is the subject of this application (hereafter referred to as “the Proposed Development”) on infrastructure and other users receptors. Specifically, this chapter considers the potential impacts of the Proposed Development seaward of Mean High Water Springs (MHWS) during the construction, operation and maintenance, and decommissioning phases.
  2. Likely significant effect is a term used in both the “EIA Regulations” and the Habitat Regulations. Reference to likely significant effect in this Offshore EIA Report refers to “likely significant effect” as used by the “EIA Regulations”. This Offshore EIA Report is accompanied by a Report to Inform Appropriate Assessment (RIAA) which uses the term as defined by the Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA) Regulations.
  3. This chapter also assesses the likely significant effects of the Proposed Development on offshore infrastructure and receptors (seaward of Mean Low Water Springs (MLWS)) during the construction, operation and maintenance, and decommissioning phases.
  4. The assessment presented is informed by the following technical chapters:
  • volume 2, chapter 7: Physical Processes;
  • volume 2, chapter 12: Commercial Fisheries; and
  • volume 2, chapter 13: Shipping and Navigation.
    1. To avoid duplication, navigational safety, and risk to all vessel types (including recreational vessels) is considered in volume 2, chapter 13. The following assessment only considers impacts that will potentially affect the undertaking of a marine activity or the operational effectiveness of marine infrastructure in the relevant infrastructure and other users study area. Restrictions to port activities and users are also assessed in volume 2, chapter 13. Indirect effects on nearshore recreational receptors through visual amenity are considered in volume 2, chapter 15. The potential effects of airborne noise on noise sensitive receptors at the shoreline are scoped out of the Offshore EIA Report, as per agreement from the Offshore EIA Scoping Opinion (MS-LOT, 2022).

17.2. Purpose of this Chapter

  1. The primary purpose of the Offshore EIA Report is outlined in volume 1, chapter 1. It is intended that the Offshore EIA Report will provide the Scottish Ministers, statutory and non-statutory stakeholders with sufficient information to determine the likely significant effects of the Proposed Development on the receiving environment.
  2. In particular, this Infrastructure and Other Users Offshore EIA Report chapter:
  • presents the existing environmental baseline established from desk studies, site-specific surveys and consultation with stakeholders;
  • identifies any assumptions and limitations encountered in compiling the environmental information.;
  • presents the likely significant environmental impacts on infrastructure and other users arising from the Proposed Development and reaches a conclusion on the likely significant effects on infrastructure and other users, based on the information gathered and the analysis and assessments undertaken; and
  • highlights any necessary monitoring and/or mitigation measures which are recommended to prevent, minimise, reduce or offset the likely significant adverse environmental of the Proposed Development on infrastructure and other users.

17.3. Study Area

  1. The infrastructure and other users study area is shown in Figure 17.1   Open ▸ . This includes the Proposed Development array area, Proposed Development export cable corridor, and broad infrastructure and other users study area (turbidity area).
  2. The infrastructure and other users study area varies in scale depending on the receptors and has been divided into different areas according to each receptor, as listed below:
  • infrastructure and other users study area: inner area (purple) (within 1 km of the Proposed Development array area and Proposed Development export cable corridor). This area includes the extent of potential direct physical overlap between the Proposed Development activities and the following receptors (if identified):

           recreational receptors (including receptors carrying out fishing, sailing and motor cruising, kite surfing, surfing, windsurfing, sea/surf kayaking, canoeing and beach users);

           offshore energy projects (e.g. offshore wind farms, wave and tidal projects, oil and gas projects);

           cable and pipeline operators;

           carbon capture and storage, natural gas storage and underground coal gasification;

           coal deposits; and

           microwave, Very High Frequency (VHF) and Ultra High Frequency (UHF) links (within 1 km of the Proposed Development array area).

  • broad infrastructure and other users study area: potential increased turbidity area (yellow). This area is based on one tidal ellipse (12 km from the Proposed Development array area) of the Proposed Development (see volume 2, chapter 7) and relates to the potential for increases in suspended sediments to occur relating to the Proposed Development. This study area is related to only those receptors which are susceptible to increases in Suspended Sediment Concentrations (SSCs), specifically:

           marine aggregate extraction and disposal sites; and

           recreational receptors (e.g. diving sites).

  1. The Proposed Development infrastructure and other users study area and the broad infrastructure and other users study area has been defined with reference to the Proposed Development boundary that existed prior to the boundary refinement in June 2022. As the refinements resulted in a reduction of the Proposed Development array area, the infrastructure and other users study area and the broad infrastructure and other users study area is considered to remain representative and present a conservative baseline against which the infrastructure and other users assessment is undertaken. The Proposed Development infrastructure and other users study area and the broad infrastructure and other users study area have not therefore been realigned to the current Proposed Development boundary.
  2. The cumulative effects assessment (CEA) will consider all other projects and plans within the broad infrastructure and other users study area (potential increased turbidity area (yellow)).

17.3.2.              Intertidal Area

  1. The offshore topic of infrastructure and other users study area includes the intertidal area. This intertidal area overlaps with the onshore assessment of land use, tourism and recreation (landward of MLWS) (Onshore EIA Report (SSER, 2022a)). The offshore socio-economics and tourism (seaward of MHWS) national study area also includes the intertidal area within the infrastructure and other users study area (volume 2, chapter 18). The findings reported in the Socio-Economics and Tourism Offshore EIA Report chapter (as these findings pertain to the intertidal area within infrastructure and other users study area) will be applied as a proxy to describe the potential for likely significant effects for infrastructure and other users receptors. Summary findings are reported here, with the full assessments presented in volume 2, chapter 18.

Figure 17.1:
 Infrastructure and Other Users Study Area

Figure 17.1:  Infrastructure and Other Users Study Area

17.4. Policy and Legislative Context

  1. Planning policy and legislation on renewable energy infrastructure is presented in volume 1, chapter 2 of the Offshore EIA Report. Planning policy, specifically in relation to infrastructure and other users in Scotland, is contained in the Scottish National Marine Plan (NMP) (Marine Scotland, 2015). The Scottish NMP covers both inshore waters (out to 12 nm) and offshore waters (12 nm to 200 nm), where Scottish Parliament can legislate in relation to activities affecting the marine environment. Key provisions of the Scottish NMP are set out in Table 17.1   Open ▸ along with details as to how these have been addressed within the assessment. These are summarised here with further detail presented in volume 1, chapter 2.

 

Table 17.1:
Scottish National Marine Plan Policies of Relevance to this Chapter (SMP, 2020)

Table 17.1: Scottish National Marine Plan Policies of Relevance to this Chapter (SMP, 2020)

 

17.5. Consultation

  1. A summary of the key issues raised during consultation activities undertaken to date, specific to infrastructure and other users is presented in Table 17.2   Open ▸ , together with how these issues have been considered in the production of this Offshore EIA Report chapter. Further detail is presented within volume 1, chapter 5.

 

Table 17.2:
Summary of Key Consultation of Relevance to Infrastructure and Other Users

Table 17.2: Summary of Key Consultation of Relevance to Infrastructure and Other Users

 

17.6. Methodology to Inform Baseline

17.6.1.              Desktop Study

  1. Information on infrastructure and other users within the infrastructure and other users study area was collected through a detailed desktop review of existing studies and datasets. These are summarised in Table 17.3   Open ▸ . The desktop study was supplemented with information provided during stakeholder consultation, as detailed in volume 1, chapter 5.

 

Table 17.3:
Summary of Key Desktop Reports

Table 17.3: Summary of Key Desktop Reports

 

17.6.2.              Site-Specific Surveys

  1. No site-specific surveys have been undertaken to inform the EIA for infrastructure and other users. This is because receptor information and data related to this topic can be readily collected through desktop study, consultation with relevant stakeholders, and is currently available due to suitable data throughout the Forth and Tay Region. Additional data and modelling studies will not be required to characterise the infrastructure and other users baseline.

17.7. Baseline Environment

17.7.1.              Overview of Baseline Environment

  1. This section provides an overview of the baseline recreational boating (including sailing and motor cruising), recreational fishing, other recreational activities, offshore energy projects, offshore cables and pipelines, carbon capture, natural gas storage and underground gasification, oil and gas, coal deposits, and marine aggregate extraction and disposal sites, within the broad infrastructure and other users study area ( Figure 17.1   Open ▸ ).

Recreational sailing, boating and motor cruising

  1. This section provides an overview of recreational sailing, boating and motor cruising within the vicinity of the Proposed Development ( Figure 17.2   Open ▸ ).
  2. Scottish residents have a high level of engagement with the marine environment. A significant majority (89%) of residents that took part in public surveys, visited the Scottish sea and/or coast within the last year (Marine Scotland Directorate, 2020). Activities are wide ranging and highly variable across population demographics, but it was illustrated that water-based activities are likely to be undertaken by younger respondents while beachcombing and wildlife watching are more likely to be undertaken by older respondents from survey results (Marine Scotland Directorate, 2020).
  3. In general, recreational boating is highly seasonal, with a greater density of vessels found throughout summer, as well as highly diurnal, with boating occurring usually during the daytime (RYA, 2005). Boating areas include general sailing areas, racing areas, sailing schools, and sailing clubs. Sailing is predominantly concentrated along the west coast of Scotland and in the Clyde (NMPi, 2021). Sailing area profits along the east coast of Scotland are responsible for 10% of overall revenue while the west coast and Clyde are responsible for 39% and 44% respectively (Scottish Government, 2015).
  4. General boating areas are used for general day to day use by all recreational boating users, including dinghies, sailboards, watercraft and small cruisers. Often recreational activity is random, subject to the weather and generally does not involve point to point passage as seen with larger more commercial vessels (RYA, 2005). The infrastructure and other users study area - inner area is in proximity to general boating areas associated with Dunbar Sailing Club and East Lothian Yacht Club. Dunbar Sailing Club is located approximately 47.92 km from the Proposed Development array area and 5.71 km from the Proposed Development export cable corridor. East Lothian Yacht Club is approximately 55.69 km from the Proposed Development array area and 19.77 km from the Proposed Development export cable corridor. Both sailing clubs are adjacent to the offshore Proposed Development export cable corridor, situated north-west of the infrastructure and other users study area - inner area. General boating areas are located to the south of Elie, covering an area of approximately 23.3 km2, north of North Berwick, covering an area of approximately 38.4 km2, and east of Berwick-upon-Tweed, covering approximately 32.2 km2 (NMPi, 2021).
  5. According to the NMPi, extensive recreational boating occurs in the area of sea between North Berwick, and Elie and Earlsferry, with motor cruising areas extending to the east towards the Proposed Development array area ( Figure 17.2   Open ▸ and Figure 17.3   Open ▸ ) (NMPi, 2021).
  6. Activity is lower along the Proposed Development export cable corridor, with recreational boating expected to be more transitory in nature (NMPi, 2021).
  7. Racing areas are generally used at weekends and during holiday periods by sailing, boating and motor users. These areas are under the control of nearby sailing clubs and often contain temporary or permanent marker buoys. Racing routes are often determined on the day of the race and are subject to bespoke racing rules while following conventional Collision Regulations when additional vessels are in conflict (RYA, 2005). There are no known racing areas in the infrastructure and other users study area - inner area based on the NMPi. However, racing areas are subject to change and the coastal areas around the Proposed Development are utilised by several recreational sailing, boating and motor cruising activities ( Figure 17.2   Open ▸ ). The closest general racing areas located in proximity to the infrastructure and other users study area – inner area, are located at Berwick-upon-Tweed, located 24.9 km to the south of the Proposed Development and North Berwick, located 15.39 km to the north of the Proposed Development ( Figure 17.2   Open ▸ ).
  8. Sailing seasons typically run from May to August, with a peak of activity in July. There are a number of race marks to the north-west of the Proposed Development, as advised by East Lothian Yacht Club. The East Lothian Yacht Club and Dunbar Sailing Club holds races on a regular basis from May to August, and racing activity takes place around North Berwick. The majority of activity associated with the East Lothian Yacht Club and Dunbar Sailing Club is held to the north-west of the Proposed Development (ELYC, 2021).
  9. Sailing schools act as teaching institutions, with marina boat berths attached and are in constant use throughout the year. Sailing clubs are membership organisations with affiliation to Scottish sailing. They provide certain types of activities, ranging from racing and sail cruising to powerboating, all of which are open to members of the public (RYA, 2005). Largo Bay Sailing Club, Port Edgar Sailing School, Fisherrow Yacht Club, East Lothian Yacht Club, and Dunbar Sailing Club are located to the northwest of the Proposed Development, beyond the infrastructure and other users study area - inner area.
  10. Automatic Identification System (AIS) data for recreational craft identifies vessels transiting predominantly in a parallel direction to the Scottish coastline ( Figure 17.3   Open ▸ ). The majority of vessel traffic in the Firth of Forth and therefore offshore of North Berwick originates from South Queensferry, Newhaven, Burntisland, Anstruther and Eyemouth. Vessels are most commonly found ranging between 3 nm and 9 nm offshore North Berwick (AIS Marine Traffic, 2021).
  11. Additional information related to recreational sailing, boating and motor cruising is presented in volume 2, chapter 18.


Figure 17.2:
Harbours and Marinas in the Infrastructure and Other Users Study Area

Figure 17.2:  Harbours and Marinas in the Infrastructure and Other Users Study Area

Figure 17.3:
Vessel Intensity in the Infrastructure and Other Users Study Area

Figure 17.3:  Vessel Intensity in the Infrastructure and Other Users Study Area


Recreational fishing

  1. This section provides an overview of recreational fishing activity within the vicinity of the Proposed Development (i.e. fishing for pleasure rather than for commercial reasons).
  2. Recreational sea angling occurs along most regions of the Scottish coastline and generates an estimated £140.9 million for the Scottish economy whilst supporting over 3,000 full time equivalent jobs (Scottish Government, 2015). A wide range of species are targeted during recreational sea angling and can include cod Gadus morhua, tope Galeothinus galeus, bass Dicentrarchus labrax, pollock Pollachius pollachius, rays Raja sp., mackerel Scomber scombrus, spurdog Squalus acanthias, salmon Salmo salar and sea trout Salmo trutta (NMPi, 2021).
  3. Specific to the Proposed Development, recreational sea angling occurs to the north and to the south of the of the Proposed Development, with an increase in fishing effort towards the coast and near to the landfall area ( Figure 17.4   Open ▸ ). Increased levels on shore angling can be found along the coastal beaches where the offshore export cables are expected to make landfall (NMPi, 2021).
  4. Estimated regional sea angling within Edinburgh, Fife and the south-east of Scotland calculated the number of resident sea anglers to be 20,455 with over 250,000 annual sea angler days spent in the region, accounting for an annual expenditure surpassing £26 million (Scottish Government, 2015).
  5. Rod and line fishing accounts for the majority of salmon and sea trout catches. In the most recent survey year, the number of salmon caught and retained using rod and line fishing methods was 23,690 during 2009. Those caught and released using the same method in 2009 numbered 48,136 (Scottish Government, 2011). The number of sea trout caught and retained using rod and line during 2009 was 8,167, while 15,508 sea trout were caught and released (Scottish Government, 2015).
  6. There are multiple opportunities for offshore recreational charter fishing in and around North Berwick. From the harbour, chartered boats are available for day trips targeting pollock, cod and mackerel. Fishing trips also leave from Eyemouth, located to the south of the Proposed Development (Alba Game Fishing, 2021).
  7. Spittal and Goswick Beaches, approximately 28.3 km and 36.7 km from the infrastructure and other users inner area, are known to be frequented by recreational anglers looking to catch flatfish Pleuronectiformes sp., bass, cod, whiting Merlangius merlangus and pollock (British Sea Fishing, 2021).
  8. Recreational fishing effort is highly seasonal and dependent on specific weather conditions. Additional information pertaining to recreational fishing is presented in volume 2, chapter 18.

Other recreational activities

  1. According to the British Marine Federation, the marine leisure industry, including waterborne recreational pursuits, supports nearly 1,800 full time equivalent jobs in Scotland (Scottish Government, 2015). It is noted that the marine leisure industry is supported by a solid local market with particular contribution to the rural economy, specifically along the west coast of Scotland (Scottish Government, 2015).

Diving

  1. Dive tourism is crucial to the local economies along the Berwickshire coastline due to the number of wrecks along the western coast of Scotland and the Voluntary Marine Reserve off St. Abb’s Head and Eyemouth (Scottish Government, 2015). It is estimated that in 2015, more than 25,000 divers visited Berwickshire dive sites, contributing more than £3.7 million towards local economies (Scottish Government, 2015).
  2. There are a number of diving club tour operators located to the north and south of the Proposed Development. To the north, Dive Safari Scotland, Dive St. Abbs, DiveStay, Marine Quest and St. Abbs Diving operate day trips predominantly to Bass Rock, the Isle of May and a few of the over 100 historic wrecks located in up to 40 m of water found along the east coast of Scotland (DBS, 2021). Shore based diving takes place off of North Berwick in North Berwick Harbour along Galloway’s Pier when weather, tide and vessel traffic allows (NBHTA, 2021). Farne Islands Diving and Sovereign Diving are located to the south of the Proposed Development and predominantly facilitate diving trips to the Farne Islands, located 63.2 km from the Proposed Development array area.
  3. There were 11 dive sites identified from the desktop review that are located within the broad infrastructure and other users study area - potential increased turbidity area (NMPi, 2021). These diving sites, mentioned in order of distance from the shoreline, are referred to as River Garry, Boyne Castle, U12, Dunbar Harbour, Dove, Dunscore, Sabbia, HMS Pathfinder, SS Grenmar, St. Briac, and Burnstone (NMPi, 2021). Diving generally takes place between March through October ( Figure 17.5   Open ▸ ).

Water sports

  1. There are a number of tour operators that offer water sports such as canoeing, kayaking, surfing, windsurfing and kite surfing based in North Berwick, Dunbar and Eyemouth, located 19.77 km, 5.7 km and 15.3 km from the Proposed Development export cable corridor respectively.
  2. No canoeing, kayaking, surfing, windsurfing or kite surfing locations were identified within the Proposed Development array area, however there are surfing, surf kayaking and paddleboarding locations in close proximity to and within the Proposed Development export cable corridor ( Figure 17.5   Open ▸ ). Popular surfing areas are known to be located at Seacliff in North Berwick and Belhaven Bay in Dunbar, located north of the Proposed Development export cable corridor (NMPi, 2021). South of the Proposed Development, there are surfing locations in Pease Bay near Cove and Coldingham Bay near Eyemouth, located 5.07 km and 15.3 km from the Proposed Development export cable corridor respectively (NMPi, 2021).
  3. The closest windsurfing location is known as North Berwick, located in North Berwick, approximately 19.77 km from the Proposed Development export cable corridor (NMPi, 2021).

Beach users and bathing waters

  1. The Proposed Development export cable corridor is located within the Skateraw Beach area, and in the vicinity of Belhaven Bay, Dunbar East and Whitesands beaches to the north and Thorntonloch and Coldingham beaches to the south (NMPi, 2021). Skateraw beach is located within the infrastructure and other users study area - inner area.
  2. Belhaven Bay beach is described as a sandy, dune backed beach that is part of the John Muir Country Park and utilised by members of the public and tourists for recreational activities such as walking and swimming (Walk Highlands, 2021). Dunbar East beach is a sandy and rocky beach actively managed by the East Lothian Council and popular with the local community (KSB, 2021). Whitesands beach is located two miles south-east along the coast from Dunbar and is a rural and secluded beach with fine, clean sands (Beach Guide, 2021). Whitesands beach has recently received a Keep Scotland Beautiful Beach Award (NMPi, 2021).
  3. Thorntonloch beach is a sandy beach that is located approximately 51.49 km from Edinburgh, along the A1 and adjacent to the Torness nuclear power station (Beach Guide, 2021). Thorntonloch beach is backed by low, grassy sand dunes and is popular with local fisherman and is roughly 400 m in length (Beach Guide, 2021). Skateraw beach is a small, sandy beach that is located within the protection of Skateraw Harbour (Beach Guide, 2021).
  4. Lastly, Coldingham Bay beach is a sheltered and sandy beach stretching over 1 km in length and situated within the St. Abbs and Eyemouth Voluntary Marine Reserve (Visit Scotland, 2021).
  5. Other beaches further northwest of the Proposed Development near North Berwick include West beach and Milsey Bay beach. Each of the aforementioned beaches, except for Skateraw beach, where the Proposed Development export cable corridor will make landfall, are located outside of the infrastructure and other users study area – inner area.
  6. There are 85 designated and former bathing waters located in waters surrounding Scotland according to 2021 Scottish Government findings (Scottish Government, 2021a). Scottish ministers determine the length of the bathing season and designate bathing waters where they expect large numbers of people to bathe. These areas are given special protection to ensure they are safe for people to swim in during the bathing season, which typically runs from 1 June to 15 September (Scottish Government, 2021a). Out of the 85 designated sites in 2021, approximately 12 are located in East Lothian, three of which are less than 10 km from the Proposed Development export cable corridor. In decreasing distances, Dunbar East bathing waters are approximately 5.4 km from the Proposed Development export cable corridor, while Whitesands bathing waters are 2.01 km away, and Thorntonloch bathing waters are located in closest proximity to the Proposed Development export cable corridor at Skateraw Landfall, less than 1.5 km to the south.

Harbours, marinas, dredging areas and disposal sites

  1. The main ports in proximity to the Proposed Development are Cove Harbour in Cockburnspath and Victoria Harbour in Dunbar. Cove Harbour allows leisure fishing and is part of a SSSI based on its geology (Cove Harbour, 2021; NatureScot, 2021). Victoria Harbour is home to a small commercial fishing fleet and lifeboat station (Discover Dunbar, 2021).
  2. Cove Harbour is located to the south of the Proposed Development and Victoria Harbour to the north (NMPi, 2021). There are no harbours or marinas located directly within the infrastructure and other users study area – inner area according to desktop reviews and data collected from Marine Scotland (NMPi, 2021).
  3. A review of potential active and closed marine dredging areas and disposal sites identified no active or closed sites within the infrastructure and other users study area – inner area.
  4. The closest open marine dredging area to the Proposed Development array area is located off the coast of Anstruther and is approximately 45.0 km north-east of the Proposed Development and more specifically, 16.8 km northeast of the broad infrastructure and other users study area: potential increased turbidity area (NMPi, 2021).
  5. The closest disused marine disposal site to Proposed Development array area is located approximately 70 m from the infrastructure and other users study area - inner area. This closed disposal site is referred to as dredging disposal site ‘F0050’ according to Marine Scotland (NMPi, 2021). Closed marine disposal sites ‘F0060’ and F0030’ are also located in proximity to the Proposed Development, but north-east of the infrastructure and other users study area - inner area, approximately 1.8 km and 4.7 km respectively (NMPi, 2021).
  6. There is one open marine disposal site located approximately 27.4 km from the Skateraw Landfall area, directly south of both the Proposed Development array area and the Proposed Development export cable corridor. This open marine disposal site is referred to as ‘F0080’ by Marine Scotland and is located directly east of Eyemouth (NMPi, 2021).
  7. Although there is a disposal site bordering the infrastructure and other users study area - inner area, this site is closed and therefore marine disposal sites have not been considered further within this chapter. Additionally, the only open disposal sites are located outside of the broad infrastructure and other users study area: potential increases turbidity area.
  8. Additional information relating to harbours in the vicinity of the Proposed Development is presented in volume 2, chapter 18.

Marine aggregate resource areas and coal deposits

  1. Although Scotland has a considerable marine sand and gravel resource, the marine aggregate industry has historically been very small due to more readily accessible land supplies. Marine aggregate licences have historically been issued to two sites in Scotland, one site in the Firth of Forth and the second site in the Firth of Tay (Scottish Government, 2015), which do not overlap the broad infrastructure and other users study area – potential increased turbidity area.
  2. There is potential for increased aggregate extraction activity in Scotland to utilise in gravity bases for marine renewable energy infrastructure and in coastal defence (Scottish Government, 2015). However, there are currently no active licences for marine aggregate extraction in the Firth of Forth and Firth of Tay marine regions. Marine aggregate extraction sites have therefore not been considered further.

Figure 17.4:
 Recreational Density in the Infrastructure and Other Users Study Area

Figure 17.4:  Recreational Density in the Infrastructure and Other Users Study Area


Figure 17.5:
 Recreational Activities in the Infrastructure and Other Users Study Area

Figure 17.5:  Recreational Activities in the Infrastructure and Other Users Study Area

Offshore energy projects

  1. Offshore energy projects in proximity to the infrastructure and other users study area – inner area include NnG (under construction), Inch Cape (consent authorised) ,Seagreen 1 (under construction), Seagreen 1A Project and Seagreen 1A Export Cable Corridor illustrated in Figure 17.6   Open ▸ . The export cable corridor for the NnG Offshore Wind Farm intersects the Proposed Development export cable corridor and overlaps the infrastructure and other users study area – inner area.
  2. The NnG Offshore Wind Farm is located approximately 15 km off the Fife coast and approximately 28 km offshore Dunbar. The offshore wind farm will connect via offshore export cables to the mainland at Thorntonloch beach, East Lothian and will comprise up to 75 wind turbines with an installed capacity of 450 MW (Marine Scotland, 2018).
  3. The Inch Cape Offshore Wind Farm is proposed to be located outside of the infrastructure and other users study area - inner area. This offshore wind farm is to be located approximately 15 km from the Angus Coast and approximately 49 km offshore Dunbar, connecting via offshore export cables to the National Grid at Cockenzie, East Lothian (ICOL, 2021). SeaEnergy Renewables Limited is anticipating the wind farm to consist of approximately 72 wind turbines with an installed capacity of 1,000 MW (Marine Scotland, 2019).
  4. Seagreen is located approximately 27 km off the coast of Angus in the North Firth and approximately 10 km north of the infrastructure and other users study area - inner area. Seagreen Wind Energy Ltd. is planning on having 114 wind turbines capable of generating 1,075 MW installed capacity as part of the Seagreen 1 development (Seagreen Wind Energy, 2021).Additionally, the Seagreen 1A Project refers to the remaining 36 wind turbines (cumulative 150 wind turbines) which have been consented and are of larger size that those represented in Seagreen 1. In order to connect the Seagreen 1A Project to the grid, the Seagreen 1A Export Cable Corridor is required and will make landfall at Cockenzie or Seton Sands.
  5. There are no wave and tidal energy projects within the infrastructure and other users study area - inner area). Wave and tidal projects have therefore not been considered further.
  6. The Firth of Forth supports oil and gas activities such as those associated with the Grangemouth refinery, oil storage and tanker terminals. However, there are currently no active licence blocks located within or near the Proposed Development.
  7. There are, however, several overlaps of non-active licence blocks with the Proposed Development array area, namely: 25/20, 26/16, 26/17, 26/18, 26/21, 26/22, 26/23, 26/24, 26/27, 26/28 and 26/29. The closest active licence block, Block 27/9 - North Sea Natural Resources Ltd, is located approximately 68 km from the Proposed Development array area and 84.6 km from the Proposed Development export cable corridor.
  8. In July 2019, the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA) launched the 32nd Offshore Licensing Round with 768 blocks or part blocks on offer across the main producing areas of the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS). In March 2020, the OGA announced a ‘temporary pause’ on offshore licencing rounds, with no 33rd Offshore Licensing Round to be launched in 2020/2021. Given the lack of existing activity in the area, it is likely that there is limited potential for exploration in this area of the North Sea.
  9. The 32nd Offshore Licensing Round further detailed 79 sites within the Central and Southern North Sea Blocks, areas in proximity to the Proposed Development. Five blocks are located within 200 km of the Proposed Development array area, namely: 27/9, 28/9, 29/9, 35/27, and 36/30. The closest of these blocks (27/9) is located 68 km from the Proposed Development array area and 84.6 km from the Proposed Development export cable corridor.
  10. There are no oil and gas pipelines located within the infrastructure and other users study area - inner area. The closest pipeline (Everest to Teeside (Cats Trunkline) gas pipeline) is located approximately 102 km from the Proposed Development.

Figure 17.6:
Offshore Energy Projects in the Vicinity of the Proposed Development

Figure 17.6: Offshore Energy Projects in the Vicinity of the Proposed Development

  1. The following services are associated with the oil and gas industry:

Offshore cables, pipelines and subsea communications infrastructure

  1. More than 95% of international telecommunications is through subsea cabling networks, of which approximately 40% of the UK’s active international telecommunication cables are located along the Scottish seabed (Scottish Government, 2015).
  2. The Eastern Link Project (Eastern Link 1) is a new energy link between Scotland and England, comprising a submarine cable route connecting Torness Power Station to Hawthorn Pit to further support the growth of renewable energy (Eastern Link Project, 2021). Additionally, the Scotland to England Green Link (Eastern Link 2) is a subsea High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) link between Peterhead, Scotland and North Yorkshire, England (Marine Scotland, 2021). The Eastern Link 1 submarine cable is located within the infrastructure and other users study area - inner area, while the Eastern Link 2 cable is located immediately outside of the broad infrastructure and other users study area. Similarly, the NnG export cable corridor is located within the infrastructure and other users study area - inner area and the Seagreen 1A Export Cable Corridor is located just outside of the infrastructure and other users study area – inner area and within the broad infrastructure and other users study area: potential increased turbidity area.
  3. A review of additional active and disused subsea cables and pipelines has identified no other active cables or pipelines in the infrastructure and other users study area - inner area. The Kincardine export cable corridor, which is a crucial component of the Kincardine Floating Offshore Wind Farm located off the coast of Aberdeen in Scotland, is located approximately 61.3 km to the north of the Proposed Development array area.
  4. The Hywind export cable corridor is associated with Hywind Scotland Pilot Park, located off Peterhead, Scotland and located approximately 110 km north of the Proposed Development array area.
  5. There are no active or disused subsea telecommunication cables present in the infrastructure and other users study area - inner area. The nearest active telecommunications cable is located approximately 41.7 km from Skateraw Landfall area, located between mainland and Holy Island to the south-east of the landfall area.
  6. The Tampnet Central North Sea Fibre Telecommunications Company (CNSFTC) telecommunication network and the North Sea Interconnector are located to the north and south of the Proposed Development array area, outside of the infrastructure and other users study area – inner area (NMPi, 2021).
  7. Tampnet is a Norwegian based high capacity, low latency communications provider to mobile rigs, offshore installations, and vessels (Reimer, 2018). Tampnet has 1,751 km of subsea cabling in the North Sea, linking Norway to the UK, specifically at a landfall location in Aberdeen, Scotland (Reimer, 2018).
  8. The North Sea Interconnector acts as a subsea link between the electricity systems of the UK and Norway, enabling the wind power transmissions and facilitating links between global energy markets (van der Meijden, 2016).
  9. Offshore wind farm export cables are further addressed under paragraph 60.

17.7.2.              Future Baseline Scenario

  1. The requirement to consider future baseline conditions is outlined in the volume 1, chapter 2.
  2. In the event that the Proposed Development does not come forward, an assessment of the future baseline conditions has been carried out and is described within this section.
  3. The future baseline scenario for recreational activities is considered unlikely to change substantially from that presented in section 17.7 above, in the absence of the Proposed Development. The future baseline scenario for recreational sailing and motor cruising, recreational fishing and other recreational activities is likely to gradually increase in line with population growth in Scotland, however this is unlikely to represent a substantial change in the short term.
  4. There is potential for significant growth in offshore wind energy within Scotland, with the Scottish Government setting out plans to increase offshore wind capacity to 11 GW of energy installed by 2030. There are a number of sites along the coast of Scotland with operational offshore wind developments, another 4.9 GW of consented projects (Scottish Sectoral Marine Plan, 2020; Offshore Wind Scotland, 2021), and up to an additional 24.83 GW projects in the concept/early planning stage as part of the ScotWind leasing round (The Crown Estate, 2022). As shown in volume 3, appendix 6.4, all Scotwind projects have been screened out of the CEA on the basis of low data confidence. Other renewable energy sources, such as wave and tidal energy devices, are in their early research and development stage.
  5. Oil and gas are vital to Scotland and were responsible for nearly 90% of the country’s primary energy in 2015 (Scottish Government, 2021b). Although the sector is seen as a critical and integral component to the economy, support for oil and gas programs moving forward will be conditional on the sector’s actions to facilitate sustainable energy transitions for the future (Scottish Government, 2021b). Therefore, the baseline environment for oil and gas activity in the vicinity of the Proposed Development is unlikely to change.
  6. There is currently potential for marine aggregate extraction to increase in line with the increased demand for aggregate utilisation in gravity bases for marine renewable energy infrastructure and in coastal defence construction (Scottish Government, 2015). However, there are currently no active licences for marine aggregate extraction in the Firth of Forth and Firth of Tay marine region and therefore the baseline environment for marine aggregates mining activity in proximity to the Proposed Development is unlikely to change.
  7. The future baseline scenario for offshore cables, carbon capture storage, natural gas storage and underground coal gasification is subject to gradual change as new projects and/or sites are further identified.

17.7.3.              Data Limitations

  1. The data sources used in this chapter are detailed in Table 17.3   Open ▸ . The data used are the most up to date publicly available information which can be obtained from the applicable data sources as cited. The data are therefore limited by what is available and by what has been made available, at the time of writing the Offshore EIA Report. It is considered that the data employed in the assessment are robust and sufficient for the purposes of the assessment of effects presented.

17.8. Key Parameters for Assessment

17.8.1.              Maximum Design Scenario

  1. The maximum design scenarios identified in Table 17.4   Open ▸ have been selected as those having the potential to result in the greatest effect on an identified receptor or receptor group. These scenarios have been selected from the details provided in volume 1, chapter 3 of the Offshore EIA Report. Effects of greater adverse significance are not predicted to arise should any other development scenario, based on details within the Project Design Envelope (e.g. different infrastructure layout), to that assessed here, be taken forward in the final design scheme.

 

Table 17.4:
Maximum Design Scenario Considered for each Impact as part of the Assessment of Likely Significant Effects on Infrastructure and Other Users

Table 17.4: Maximum Design Scenario Considered for each Impact as part of the Assessment of Likely Significant Effects on Infrastructure and Other Users

 

17.8.2.              Impacts Scoped out of the Assessment

  1. Pre-application consultation ( Table 17.2   Open ▸ ) has been used to facilitate stakeholder engagement on potential impacts to be scoped out of the infrastructure and other users assessment.
  2. On the basis of these discussions, baseline environment and the project description outlined in volume 1, chapter 3 of the Offshore EIA Report, a number of potential impacts are proposed to be scoped out of the assessment for infrastructure and other users. These have been agreed with key stakeholders through consultation as discussed in volume 1, chapter 5. Otherwise these impacts were proposed to be scoped-out in the Berwick Bank Wind Farm Offshore Scoping Report (SSER, 2021a) and no concerns were raised by key consultees. Where discussions with consultees took place after the publication of the Berwick Bank Wind Farm Scoping Opinion (MS-LOT, 2022) these have been discussed with key stakeholders through consultation. Any such ‘post-Scoping’ discussions are audited in the Audit Document for Post-Scoping Discussions (volume 3, appendix 5.1).
  3. These impacts are outlined, together with a justification for scoping them out, in Table 17.5   Open ▸ . An indication of a phase of the development during which those impacts have a potential to occur is given by ticks and crosses (i.e., during scoping accidental pollution has been considered as a potential impact during construction and decommissioning (tick), but not during the operation and maintenance phase (cross).

 

Table 17.5:
Impacts Scoped Out of the Assessment for Infrastructure and Other Users (tick confirms the impact is scoped out)

Table 17.5: Impacts Scoped Out of the Assessment for Infrastructure and Other Users (tick confirms the impact is scoped out)

 

17.9. Methodology for Assessment of Effects

17.9.1.              Overview

  1. The infrastructure and other users assessment of effects has followed the methodology set out in volume 1, chapter 6 of the Offshore EIA Report. Specific to the infrastructure and other users EIA, the following guidance documents have also been considered:
  • The RYA Scotland’s Position on Offshore Renewable Energy Developments: Paper 1 (of 4) – Wind Energy, June 2015 (RYA, 2015);
  • Assessment of Impact of Offshore Wind Energy Structures on the Marine Environment (Marine Institute, 2000);
  • Guidance on Environmental Impact Assessment of Offshore Renewable Energy Development on Surfing Resources and Recreation (Surfers Against Sewage (SAS), 2009);
  • European Subsea Cables Association (ESCA) Guideline No 6, The Proximity of Offshore Renewable Energy Installations and Submarine Cable Infrastructure in UK Waters (ESCA, 2016);
  • International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) recommendations:
  • Recommendation No. 2. Cable Routing and Reporting Criteria (ICPC, 2015);
  • Recommendation No.3. Telecommunications Cable and oil Pipeline/Power Cables Crossing Criteria (ICPC, 2014); and
  • Recommendation No.13. The Proximity of Offshore Renewable Wind Energy Installations and Submarine Cable Infrastructure in National Waters (ICPC, 2013).
  • The Crown Estate (TCE) and Crown Estate Scotland (CES) Agreements and Oil and Gas Licences (OGA, 2017);
  • Oil and Gas UK, Pipeline Crossing Agreement and Proximity Agreement Pack (Oil and Gas UK, 2015);
  • TCE Guidance: Export transmission cables for offshore renewable installations – Principles of cable routeing and spacing (TCE, 2012); and
  • TCE Guidance: TCE Guidance: Submarine cables and offshore renewable energy installation – Proximity study (TCE, 2012).