18. Socio-Economics and Tourism

18.1. Introduction

1. This chapter of the Offshore Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report presents the assessment of the likely significant effects (as per the “EIA Regulations”) on the environment of the Berwick Bank Wind Farm offshore infrastructure which is the subject of this application (hereafter referred to as “the Proposed Development”) on socio-economics and tourism 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) (SSER, 2022c) 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 onshore receptors (landward of Mean Low Water Springs (MLWS)) during the construction, operation and maintenance, and decommissioning phases.
4. In the case of socio-economics assessment of effects, there is a complexity with the impacts associated with offshore and intertidal activities primarily manifesting onshore. This chapter’s approach is focused on the 'source' of the impact, rather than the ultimate location of the physical infrastructure. This is consistent with the broader approach to separating onshore and offshore effects:

• Offshore: if physical infrastructure and civil works are located offshore, any resulting impacts are categorised as offshore.
• Onshore: if physical infrastructure and civil works are located onshore, any resulting impacts are categorised as onshore.
  5. The potential impacts from the construction, operation and maintenance, and decommissioning of the onshore components (namely the onshore substation and associated infrastructure) of the Project on socio-economics and tourism receptors are considered as part of the of the Berwick Bank Wind Farm Onshore EIA Report (SSER, 2022a).
  6. The assessment presented is informed by the following EIA Report Chapters:
• volume 2, chapter 12: Commercial Fisheries;
• volume 2, chapter 13: Shipping and Navigation;
• volume 2, chapter 15 Seascape and Visual Resources; and
• volume 2, chapter 17: Infrastructure and Other Users.
  7. This chapter draws significantly on the Technical Impact Report contained within volume 3, appendix 18.1 (Berwick Bank Wind Farm: Socioeconomic Technical Report, BVG Associates).
  8. Volume 3, appendix 18.1 sets out an economic analysis of the Proposed Development, and has been prepared to inform the socio-economics and tourism assessment of effects.
  9. Volume 3, appendix 18.1 also considers direct, indirect and induced employment and Gross Value Added (GVA) effects at local, Scotland and United Kingdom (UK) level across a detailed breakdown of phases and supply chain categories. The Technical Impact Report considers effects of offshore and onshore activity, and presents total effects based on an aggregation of both.

18.2. Purpose of this Chapter

10. 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.
11. In particular, this Socio-economics and Tourism EIA Report chapter:

• presents the existing environmental baseline established from desk studies and consultation with stakeholders;
• identifies any assumptions and limitations encountered in compiling the socio-economics and tourism information;
• presents the likely significant environmental impacts on socio-economics and tourism receptors arising from the Proposed Development and reaches a conclusion on the likely significant effects on socio-economics and tourism based on the information gathered and the analysis and assessments undertaken; and
• highlights any necessary monitoring and/or mitigation measures recommended to prevent, minimise, reduce or offset likely significant adverse environmental effects of the Proposed Development on socio-economics and tourism receptors.

18.3. Socio-Economics and Tourism Study Areas

12. The identification of the study areas for the socio-economics and tourism impact analysis has taken account of the spatial scale at which impacts upon different receptors are likely to materialise. This is likely to vary across receptors and will therefore require a localised study area and a larger regional/national study area, separated between socio-economic and tourism receptors. The level at which impacts upon different receptors are likely to materialise is as follows:

• socio-economics receptors: local and national; and
• tourism: local.

18.3.1.              Socio-Economics Local Study Area(s)

13. It is necessary that the socio-economics local study area is linked to the selection of construction (and decommissioning), and operation and maintenance ports that will support the associated supply of a range of inputs and services for the Proposed Development. These ports, and their socio-economic catchment areas are anticipated to form epicentres of impact on socio-economic receptors. The selection process associated with the identification of ports, inputs and services will not conclude until much later in the development of the Project, which is typical for offshore wind farms.
14. The following approach has been followed to define socio-economics local study area(s):

• Step 1: identify port and harbour facilities that are viable options for construction and/or operation and maintenance bases.
• Step 2: assess socio-economics local study area(s) associated with each port and harbour facility.

Step 1 – Identify port and harbour facilities that are viable options for construction and/or operation and maintenance bases

15. The Applicant, having conducted an exploratory facilities assessment, identified a shortlist of ports and harbours as potential locations for each phase of the Proposed Development. Potential facilities are listed in Table 18.1   Open ▸ .
16. Identified port and harbour facilities deemed to be suitable bases for the construction phase are also assumed to be suitable for the decommissioning phase.

Table 18.1: List of Potential Construction, Operation and Maintenance, and Decommissioning Port and Harbour Facilities

Note: henceforth each facility will be referred to by its location only to aid readability (e.g. Aberdeen Harbour will be referred to as Aberdeen).

17. Three support harbours – Cockenzie, Dunbar and Eyemouth – have been identified as unsuitable as the primary operation and maintenance phase base facility but could provide additional capacity to support the primary base facility.
18. The Port of Nigg (hereon referred to as Invergordon) has not been included in the list of potential operation and maintenance ports mainly due to distance from the site being too far for usual operational activities to occur. Also, Invergordon’s layout includes large construction compounds and a deep draft which make it a more suitable facility for use during the construction/decommissioning phases.
19. The final selection of port and harbour facilities required for the Proposed Development has not yet been determined. The Applicant is exploring Scottish ports and harbours and supporting infrastructure and labour markets to understand the potential capabilities, capacities and availability of each. Subject to these findings, the most likely scenario is that either a single port or multiple ports along the east coast of Scotland will be used to support primary elements of the construction, operation and maintenance, and decommissioning phases of the Proposed Development as part of a wider supply chain (with Cockenzie, Dunbar and Eyemouth harbours potentially providing additional support capacity). Final selection of port and harbour facilities will be subject to ongoing engineering and procurement considerations, and the use of potential facilities for the purposes of this assessment does not indicate any preference or imply any decision. Potential manufacturing and fabrication suppliers have not yet been identified – this process will be subject to further procurement decisions post-consent. Therefore, facilities relating to this aspect of the construction process cannot be considered as part of the approach to defining socio-economics local study areas.

Step 2 – Assess socio-economics local study area(s) associated with each facility

20. On the basis of the port and harbour facilities listed, the socio-economics local study area associated with each facility has been derived from labour catchments[1] by using a 60 minute drive time catchment as a proxy[2].
21. Adopting a methodology which defines the socio-economics local study area(s) on the basis of local authority areas is necessary given that government data sources are structured to reflect conditions at local authority level. Below this level of governance, data becomes increasingly scarce and can be less reliable when dealing with survey based data, for example.
22. Therefore, 60 minute drive time catchments for each facility have been converted to best fit local authority areas. Inclusion of local authority areas in a given socio-economics local study area is based on an analysis of the share of the local authority area population within the bounds of a given 60 minute drive time catchment. Local authorities with more than 50% of their population falling within a 60 minute drive time catchment of a facility have been included in the socio-economics local study area for that given facility. The results of this analysis are shown in volume 3, appendix 18.3.
23. Each port and harbour facility’s socio-economics local study area is shown in Figure 18.1   Open ▸ to Figure 18.9   Open ▸ .
24. There are differences in transport infrastructure which effects drive-time catchments – this is particularly the case when comparing locations with predominantly rural surrounds versus those with predominantly urban surrounds (especially locations in or near the Central Belt). Professional judgement has been used to qualify each facility’s socio-economics local study area. Results have also been corroborated through comparison with 2011 Travel to Work Areas (TTWA).
25. A summary of socio-economics local study areas based on the above approach is set out in Table 18.2   Open ▸ .
26. Socio-economics local study areas are not mutually exclusive, with a number of local authority areas of commonality.

Table 18.2: Socio-Economics Local Study Area(s) Definitions

Figure 18.1:  Invergordon Socio-Economics Local Study Area for the Proposed Development

Figure 18.2:  Aberdeen Socio-Economics Local Study Area for the Proposed Development

Figure 18.3: Montrose Socio-Economics Local Study Area for the Proposed Development

Figure 18.4: Dundee Socio-Economics Local Study Area for the Proposed Development

Figure 18.5: Methil Socio-Economics Local Study Area for the Proposed Development

Figure 18.6: Burntisland Socio-Economics Local Study Area for the Proposed Development

Figure 18.7: Rosyth Socio-Economics Local Study Area for the Proposed Development

Figure 18.8: Leith Socio-Economics Local Study Area for the Proposed Development

Figure 18.9: Support Harbours Socio-Economics Local Study Area for the Proposed Development

27. The offshore Leith and Support harbours socio-economics (seaward of MHWS) local study areas include the intertidal area, which overlaps with the onshore topic of the Socio-economics EIA Report (landward of MHWS) (Berwick Bank Wind Farm Onshore EIA Report (SSER, 2022a) volume 1, chapter 13).

18.3.2.              Socio-Economics National Study Area

28. A larger national socio-economics impact area is defined to reflect the wider reach of GVA and employment impacts that may materialise through the supply chain and demand for labour across Scotland.
29. Potential expenditure on the following activities associated with the Proposed Development could support employment in Scottish companies that are directly engaged in the development, manufacturing and supply, and construction/installation supply chain:

• wind turbine manufacturing and supply – blades, nacelle, hub, tower;
• balance of plant manufacturing and supply – foundations, inter-array cables, Offshore Substation Platforms (OSPs)/Offshore convertor station platforms, offshore export cables; and
• construction and installation of wind turbine and balance of plant – wind turbine, foundation, inter-array cable, and other installation.
  30. Potential expenditure on the following activities associated with the operation and maintenance of the Proposed Development could support employment in Scottish companies that are directly engaged in the operation and maintenance supply chain:
• wind turbine, balance of plant, and transmission maintenance and servicing.
• vessel and crew activity:
• Service Operation Vessels (SOV); and
• guard vessels.
  31. Potential expenditure on decommissioning of wind turbine and balance of plant associated with the Proposed Development could support employment in Scottish companies that are directly engaged in the decommissioning supply chain.
  32. The socio-economics national study area is defined as Scotland.
  33. The offshore socio-economics (seaward of MHWS) national study area includes the intertidal area. This intertidal area overlaps with the onshore topics of the socio-economics EIA Report (landward of MHWS) (Berwick Bank Wind Farm Onshore EIA Report (SSER, 2022a): volume 1, chapter 13).

18.3.3.              Tourism Local Study Area

34. Potential impacts of the construction, operation and maintenance, and decommissioning of the Proposed Development on tourism and recreation are indirect in nature. It is necessary to derive an assessment of significance of effects on tourism and recreation from the findings elsewhere in the Offshore EIA Report, namely:

• Accommodation, housing and local services: the effect of the construction (installation), operation and maintenance, and decommissioning of the Proposed Development on the availability of overnight accommodation has the potential to impact the tourism sector and its capacity to accommodate visitors. Therefore, the assessment of significance of effects on housing, accommodation, and local services considered in volume 2, chapter 18 will inform a related assessment of significance of effects on tourism and recreation.
• Seascape, landscape and visual impact: the potential visual impacts of the construction, operation and maintenance, and decommissioning of the Proposed Development will be one of the most important considerations when assessing significance of effects on tourism and recreation. As such, the findings set out in volume 2, chapter 15 will inform a related assessment of significance on tourism and recreation.
• Infrastructure and other users: the construction, operation and maintenance, and decommissioning of offshore infrastructure has the potential to impact other water users. Therefore, the findings set out in volume 2, chapter 17 will inform a related assessment of significance on tourism and recreation.
• Shipping and navigation: the construction, operation and maintenance, and decommissioning of the Proposed Development has the potential to impact on recreational boating activities. Therefore, the findings set out in volume 2, chapter 13 will inform a related assessment of significance on tourism and recreation.
  35. Given the multiple disciplines that will feed into the assessment of significance of effects on tourism and recreation, it is important to define a tourism local study area that will ensure the potential impacts most likely to effect tourism and recreation are given due consideration. As such – and in cross-reference to assessments set out in relevant topic chapters – the rationale for tourism local study area selection is set out in Table 18.3   Open ▸ .

Table 18.3: Consideration of Potential Significant Environmental and Cumulative Effects Across Disciplines Impacting Tourism and Recreation

36. Therefore, the SLVIA topic chapter (volume 2, chapter 15) will be the primary driver of the tourism local study area definition. Consideration of the location of viewpoints, visual receptors, major settlements, and recreation routes subject to potential impacts will be of central importance in defining an appropriate tourism local study area.
37. On this basis, Figure 18.10   Open ▸ sets out the tourism local study area.

Figure 18.10: Tourism Local Study Area for the Proposed Development

38. The offshore tourism (seaward of MHWS) local study area includes the intertidal area. This intertidal area overlaps with the onshore topic of land use, tourism and recreation EIA chapter (Berwick Bank Wind Farm Onshore EIA Report (SSER, 2022a); volume 1, chapter 14).

18.4. Policy and Legislative Context

39. Policy and legislation on renewable energy infrastructure is presented in volume 1, chapter 2 of the Offshore EIA Report. There is no legislation specifically in relation to the socio-economics and tourism assessment. Policy specifically in relation to socio-economics and tourism is contained in a number of strategic planning contexts. A summary of the relevant policy provisions is set out in Table 18.4   Open ▸ .
40. All the policy and legislation provided in Table 18.4   Open ▸ is also relevant to the intertidal area.

Table 18.4: Summary of Policy Provisions Relevant to Socio-Economics and Tourism

18.5. Consultation

41. There has been broad consistency in the nature of relevant scoping comments received. The approach and methodology for this chapter has been refined and enhanced based on relevant scoping responses.
42. In addition, a range of key stakeholders were invited to participate in consultation to inform the socio-economic and tourism assessment. This included national and regional representative organisations as well as local authority officers and community council representatives within the socio-economics local study areas and the tourism local study area. Invitations were issued to 58 organisations, listed in volume 3, appendix 18.2.
43. A total of 15 stakeholder organisations participated in the socio-economics and tourism consultation process. The focus of each consultation was tailored to the areas of knowledge and expertise of the participants structured around the baseline conditions for receptors, and information relevant to the assessment of socio-economics and tourism impacts.
44. Table 18.5   Open ▸ summarises the key issues related to socio-economics and tourism raised during relevant consultation activities to date and sets out firstly where these issues have been considered as part of project development (where relevant), and secondly where they have been considered in this chapter.

18.5.1.              Community Engagement

45. During the course of the project’s development thus far, the Applicant has conducted four community engagement events:

• November 2020: Introductory public virtual exhibition event. Due to public health restrictions in place due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the exhibition was held virtually. The online platform was free to access and allowed for visitors to submit written feedback via forms, or ask questions to the project team via a live chat function in real time. The event was open for contributions between 16 November – 7 December 2020. The virtual exhibition received 641 page views during the three week period. Across the four ‘live chat’ sessions the project team were asked a total of 29 questions from 12 individual community members. Three feedback forms were submitted to the project inbox.
• October 2021: Week long Community Roadshow between 25–29 October 2021 to provide information, introduce (or re-introduce) the project to the local community, and seek the views of members of the public and various stakeholder bodies. The format involved members of the project team visiting various locations across East Lothian to engage with members of the public. Across the week the team visited 17 different locations and engaged with approximately 200 community members during this period.
• December 2021: Virtual and in-person public consultation event between 6–30 December 2021 to enable members of the public to speak directly with the project team via in-person public consultation and ‘live chat’ sessions. Purpose was to engage members of the community, and seek the views of the public and stakeholder bodies. A virtual exhibition remained live online between 6–30 December 2021, with two ‘live chat’ sessions on 8 December, and an in-person public consultations on 9 December 2021 at Innerwick Village Hall. Approximately 70 members of the community attended the in-person consultation event. A total of 25 feedback forms were submitted via the online platform, nine questions were received during live chat sessions, and the virtual exhibition received 463 views over the period.
• March 2022: Virtual and in-person public consultation event between 7–31 March 2022 to enable members of the public to speak directly with the project team via in-person public consultation and ‘live chat’ sessions. This consultation event built on the information presented as part of the December 2021 consultation event (above) and confirmed to members of the public and stakeholders the proposals the Applicant wishes to submit for consenting purposes. A virtual exhibition remained live between 7–31 March 2022, with four ‘live chat’ sessions taking place on 9 and 10 March 2022. An in-person consultation event took place on 8 March 2022 at Innerwick Village Hall, attended by approximately 50 members of the community. At the request of the local Parish Council, the project team returned to Innerwick Village Hall on 29 March 2022 to host an open forum question and answer session with interested members of the community. The purpose of this session was to allow community members to ask further questions once they have had sufficient time to examine the information presented to date. Across the whole period, the virtual exhibition received 384 page views. Three feedback forms were submitted via the online platform, and a further eight questions were submitted during ‘live chat’ sessions.
  46. Pre-planning application public consultation events have been arranged at the discretion of the Applicant (i.e. separate to mandatory public consultations post-planning application) to ensure community members firstly receive as much information as possible at each stage of the project’s development, and secondly have the opportunity to comment, provide feedback, ask questions, make suggestions, and help shape the project as it progresses. Consultation with key stakeholders and the local community will continue as the project progresses.
  47. A variety of issues were raised during the course of these community engagement events. Issues raised relating to socio-economics and tourism have been considered within this chapter. The findings from these community engagement events are set out fully within the Pre-Application Consultation (PAC) Report which accompanies the Application.  

Table 18.5: Summary of Key Consultation of Relevance to Socio Economics and Tourism

18.6. Methodology to Inform Baseline

48. This section summarises the methodology applied which informed the analysis of the baseline environments of the socio-economics local study area, socio-economics national study area, and tourism local study area.
49. The summary of baseline conditions aligns with the socio-economic and tourism impacts set out in Table 18.31   Open ▸ , and will therefore cover the receptors set out below, along with associated indicators:

• Employment:

–           total employment in all industries (2019);

–           employment change in all industries (2015–2019);

–           total employment in impact industries (2019); and

–           employment change in impact industries (2015–2019).

• GVA:

–           total GVA in all industries (2019);

–           GVA change in all industries (2015–2019);

–           total GVA in impact industries (2019); and

–           GVA change in impact industries (2015–2019).

• Labour market:

–           economic activity (2019);

–           unemployment (2019); and

–           economically inactive individuals that want a job (2019).

• Housing and local services:

–           population (2019);

–           dwellings (2019);

–           unoccupied Dwellings (2019); and

–           dwellings within the Private Rented Sector (2018).

• Tourism and Recreation:

–           total tourism sector employment (2019);

–           total tourism sector GVA (2019);

–           overnight visits (2019);

–           tourism accommodation occupancy (2019); and

–           marine related tourism and recreation (various).

50. These indicators will be analysed on the basis of publicly available desktop sources as set out in Table 18.6   Open ▸ .  

18.6.1.              Industry Definitions

51. The definitions of industry terms utilised throughout the offshore socio-economics and tourism EIA chapter are as follows:

• All industries: this industry definition includes all Standard Industrial Classification 2007 (SIC07) codes and can be thought of as the ‘whole’ economy.
• Impact industries: various permutations of impact industries are utilised, each defined in volume 3, appendix 18.4. These impact industries should not be seen as representing only activity that currently contributes to the offshore wind sector. Instead, these impact industries should be seen as representative activities in industries associated with the construction, operation and maintenance, and decommissioning of offshore energy infrastructure (i.e. not limited to offshore wind).
• Offshore wind: this industry definition represents activity that currently contributes to the offshore wind sector.

Impact industries

52. There is no widely agreed and accepted definition of the offshore wind industry based on SIC07. Enterprises within many SIC07 sectors can be active within the offshore wind industry.
53. Impact industries have been defined to represent employment and GVA in industries associated with the construction, operation and maintenance, and decommissioning of offshore energy infrastructure (i.e. not limited to offshore wind). These definitions can be found in volume 3, appendix 18.4.
54. There is variance in the level of detail that employment and GVA data can be obtained via publicly available data sources:

• Employment: data can be obtained via the Office for National Statistics (ONS) Business Register and Employment Survey (BRES). BRES reports data as detailed as SIC07 'subclasses’ (or five digit SIC07), which is the most detailed level of standardised industry classification available.
• GVA: data can be obtained via Regional GVA (balanced) by industry: local authorities by International Territorial Level 1 (ITL1) region. This dataset reports data as detailed as SIC07 ‘divisions’ (or two digit SIC07), and in a number of cases aggregates a number of related divisions. This level of reporting is not as detailed as employment data available via BRES.
  55. Because of these differences in statistical reporting, a more detailed definition of impact industries using SIC07 subclasses has been adopted for employment analysis, with SIC07 divisions (some aggregated) used for GVA analysis. Respective employment and GVA impact industries definitions are set out at volume 3, appendix 18.4.

18.6.2.              Desktop Study

56. Information on socio-economics within the socio-economics local study area and socio-economics national study area, and tourism within the tourism local study area, was collected through a detailed desktop review of existing studies and datasets. These are summarised in Table 18.6   Open ▸ below.

Table 18.6: Summary of Key Desktop Sources

18.6.3.              Site-Specific Surveys

57. No site-specific surveys have been undertaken to inform the socio-economics and tourism EIA. This is due to the availability of existing publicly accessible socio-economic data for the identified impact areas. Consultation has been undertaken with stakeholders across the identified local and national study areas.

18.7. Baseline Environment

18.7.1.              Overview of Baseline Environment

58. This section summarises relevant baseline data for the socio-economics local study area, socio-economics national study area, and tourism local study area under the following headings:

• employment;
• GVA;
• labour market;
• housing and local services; and
• tourism.
  59. Some parts of Scotland’s economy will be more impacted than others by the Proposed Development. The Proposed Development has the potential to be a catalyst for economic activity focused around the offshore wind sector.

18.7.2.              Employment

60. Employment is a measure obtained by adding the number of working owners (not paid via Pay as You Earn (PAYE)) to the number of employees (full and part time). This is a measure of persons and not measured in full time equivalents (FTE).
61. The definitions of construction, operation and maintenance, and decommissioning employment impact industries on the basis of SIC07 classes/subclasses are set out in volume 3, appendix 18.4.
62. All industries employment in Scotland in 2019 was approximately 2.6 million (ONS, 2021b). Between 2015–2019, employed persons in Scotland increased by +36,000 (ONS, 2021b). This equates to an average annual growth of 0.3%.
63. The Invergordon and support harbours socio-economics local study areas have the smallest employment base across all industries. Rosyth socio-economics local study area has by far the largest employment base – as well as covering Edinburgh its 60 minute drive-time catchment includes other populous local authorities across the Central Belt, including Glasgow City and its surrounding local authorities. Dundee, Methil, Burntisland and Rosyth socio-economics local study areas have a high degree of commonality in terms of local authorities included in their labour catchments (except for the differences already noted regarding Rosyth)[4].
64. Aberdeen, Montrose and Dundee socio-economics local study areas each saw a decline in employment over the period 2015–2019. This is partly linked to the decline in offshore oil and gas activity, which is strongly represented in these areas. All other socio-economics local study areas saw an increase in employment over the period 2015–2019.
65. The figures for each socio-economics local study area and socio-economics national study area are presented in Table 18.7   Open ▸ .

Table 18.7: All Industries Employment Count and Change – by Socio-Economics Local Study Area and Socio-Economics National Study Areas

Source: Hardisty Jones Associates (HJA) analysis of Business Register and Employment Survey (BRES) (ONS, 2022)

Note: negative values in parentheses

66. Construction impact industries employment in Scotland in 2019 was approximately 77,000 (ONS, 2021b). Between 2015–2019, construction impact industries employment in Scotland decreased by 9,000 (ONS, 2021b). Operation and maintenance impact industries employment in Scotland in 2019 was approximately 64,000 (ONS, 2021b). Between 2015–2019, operation and maintenance impact industries employment in Scotland decreased by 4,000 (ONS, 2021b). Decommissioning impact industries employment in Scotland in 2019 was approximately 63,000 (ONS, 2021b). Between 2015–2019, decommissioning impact industries employment in Scotland decreased by 5,000 (ONS, 2021b).
67. With regards to construction impact industries, the Aberdeen socio-economics local study area has the largest employment base, and Montrose socio-economics local study area has an employment base of similar size (by virtue of both Socio-economics local study areas containing Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire local authorities, there is significant commonality between the two). The Invergordon socio-economics local study area does not have a similar quantum of construction impact industries employment, however anecdotal evidence indicates there is a strong presence of offshore wind sector activity there related to the Beatrice and Moray East schemes.
68. With regards to operation and maintenance impact industries, the Aberdeen socio-economics local study area has the largest employment base, and Montrose socio-economics local study area has an employment base of similar size (for the same reasons as set out above). Montrose is currently the operation and maintenance base for the Seagreen offshore wind scheme. This large employment base in terms of both construction and operation and maintenance impact industries is a result of the area surrounding Aberdeen having an economic heritage with a very strong presence in the offshore oil and gas industry, and consequent supply chain strengths in activities that could be positioned to participate in the offshore wind sector.
69. Over the period 2015–2019, employment in construction impact industries has decreased in Aberdeen and Dundee socio-economics local study areas, increased in Leith socio-economics local study area, and remained constant in Invergordon socio-economics local study area.
70. Over the same period, employment in operation and maintenance impact industries has decreased in Aberdeen, Montrose and Dundee socio-economics local study areas, and increased in most of the remaining socio-economics local study areas (level has remained constant in Methil socio-economics local study area).
71. Over the same period, employment in decommissioning impact industries has decreased in Aberdeen and Dundee socio-economics local study areas, increased in Leith socio-economics local study area, and remained constant in Invergordon socio-economics local study area.
72. The figures for each of the socio-economics local study areas and socio-economics national study area are presented in Table 18.8   Open ▸ . Employment data is shown for ports under consideration for each phase[6].

Table 18.8: Construction, Operation and Maintenance, and Decommissioning Impact Industries Employment Count and Change – by Socio-Economics Local Study Areas and Socio-Economics National Study Area

Source: HJA analysis of BRES (ONS)), 2022.

Note: negative values in parentheses.

73. Whilst there is no agreed Standard Industrial Classification 2007 (SIC07) based sector definition for offshore wind, a Scotland level study to estimate the total size of the sector, based on an ONS survey of businesses has been undertaken. Total direct, indirect and induced FTE employment supported by the offshore wind sector in Scotland in 2019 was estimated at 4,700 (FAI, 2021). No equivalent data for local impact areas is available.