7.             Offshore Human and Socio-economic Environment

7.1.        Commercial Fisheries

7.1.1.    Introduction

539. This section of the Offshore EIA Scoping Report identifies the elements of commercial fishing of relevance to the Proposed Development and considers the potential impacts from the construction, operation and maintenance, and decommissioning of the offshore and intertidal components (seaward of the MHWS mark) of the Proposed Development on commercial fisheries receptors.
540. Commercial fisheries were reported on in the initial Scoping Report. Although the change in project scope applied to this Scoping Report, which is combining the offshore Proposed Development Array Areas, the impacts are anticipated to generally be the same as identified in the initial Scoping Report. The initial Berwick Bank Wind Farm Proposal Scoping Opinion response has been considered for the development of this section.

7.1.2.    Study Area

541. The Proposed Development is located in International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) Division IVc (Central North Sea). Fisheries data are recorded and collated by statistical rectangles within each ICES Division. The commercial fisheries study area has therefore been defined with reference to the ICES rectangles within which the Proposed Development is located. As shown in Figure 7.1  Open ▸ , these are as follows:

• ICES rectangle 41E8: where the Berwick Bank Wind Farm Proposed Development Array Area and part of the Berwick Bank Wind Farm ECC are located; and
• ICES rectangles 41E7[9] and 40E7: where the inshore section of the Berwick Bank Wind Farm ECC is located.
  542. The commercial fisheries study area defined above will be used to identify fisheries active in areas relevant to the Proposed Development. Where relevant, however, data and information will be analysed for wider areas to provide context and describe the full extent of activity of the fisheries included in the assessment.

Figure 7.1: Commercial Fisheries Study Area

7.1.3.    Baseline Environment

543. This section provides a concise summary of the baseline environment of the Proposed Development; reference should be made to Appendix 11  Open where a more detailed description is provided.
544. An initial desk-based review of literature and data sources to support this commercial fisheries section of the Offshore EIA Scoping Report has identified a number of baseline datasets. These are summarised in Appendix 11  Open . Based on this review, it has been concluded that the commercial fisheries study area supports a range of commercial fishing activities:

• demersal trawling for Nephrops;
• potting for lobster and crab; and
• Scallop dredging.
  545. No site-specific surveys have been undertaken to inform the Offshore EIA Scoping Report for commercial fisheries, however, extensive consultation with fisheries stakeholders is planned to be undertaken to help inform the commercial fisheries baseline within the Offshore EIAR, and benthic subtidal and shipping and navigation survey data will be reviewed as part of the EIA and integrated into the characterisation of the commercial fisheries baseline, as appropriate.
  546. As shown in Figure 7.2  Open ▸ , in the commercial fisheries study area Nephrops are predominantly targeted in ICES rectangles 41E7 and 40E7 whilst landings of scallops are primarily recorded from ICES rectangles 41E8 and 41E7. Landings of lobster and crab are recorded at varying degrees across the whole study area. The highest landings values are recorded in ICES rectangle 41E7, at approximately £8.6 Million annually (average 2015-2019).
  547. Further detailed information on the commercial fisheries baseline environment is provided in Appendix 11  Open .

Figure 7.2: Landings Values (£) by Species (Annual Average 2015 – 2019)

7.1.4.    Potential Proposed Development Impacts

548. A range of potential impacts on commercial fisheries have been identified which may occur during the construction, operation and maintenance, and decommissioning phases of the Proposed Development in the absence of designed in measures:

• Construction

–           Temporary loss or restricted access to fishing grounds;

–           Displacement of fishing activity into other areas;

–           Interference with fishing activity;

–           Increased steaming times;

–           Snagging risk - loss or damage to fishing gear; and

–           Potential impacts on commercially exploited species.

• Operation and Maintenance

–           Loss or restricted access to fishing grounds;

–           Displacement of fishing activity into other areas;

–           Interference with fishing activity;

–           Increased steaming times;

–           Snagging risk – loss or damage to fishing gear; and

–           Potential impacts on commercially exploited species.

• Decommissioning

–           As per Construction.

7.1.5.    Designed in Measures

549. The following designed in measures, and how these can reduce potential for impact, have been considered in identification of impacts that have been scoped into the Proposed Development assessment (Table 7.1  Open ▸ ).
550. Measures adopted as part of the Proposed Development will include:

• ongoing consultation with the fishing industry and appointment of a Fisheries Liaison Officer (FLO);
• development of a Fisheries Management and Mitigation Strategy (FMMS);
• adherence to good practice guidance with regards to fisheries liaison (e.g. FLOWW, 2014;2015);
• timely and efficient distribution of Notice to Mariners (NtM), Kingfisher notifications and other navigational warnings of the position and nature of works associated with the Proposed Development;
• use of guard vessels and Offshore Fisheries Liaison Officers (OFLOs), as appropriate;
• implementation of a Vessel Management Plan (VMP) and Navigational Safety Plan (NSP);
• notification to the UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) of the proposed works to facilitate the promulgation of maritime safety information and updating of nautical charts and publications;
• undertaking of post-lay and cable burial inspection surveys and monitoring,
• participation in the Forth and Tay Commercial Fisheries Working Group (FTCFWG) and liaison with Fisheries Industry Representatives (FIRs), as appropriate; and
• as per recommendation within the initial Berwick Bank Wind Farm Proposal Scoping Opinion, an assessment will be made of the as laid data (geophysical) in order to assess the potential for snagging. This will then inform the requirement for an overtrawlability study, which would then be planned and undertaken in discussion with fisheries stakeholders.
  551. The requirement and feasibility of additional measures will be dependent on the significance of the effects on commercial fisheries and will be consulted upon with statutory consultees throughout the EIA process.

7.1.6.    Potential Impacts after the Implementation of designed in measures

552. The impacts that have been scoped into the Proposed Development assessment following considering of designed in measures are outlined in Table 7.1  Open ▸ together with a description of any additional data collection (e.g. site-specific surveys) and/or supporting analyses (e.g. modelling) that will be required to enable a full assessment of the impacts.
553. At this stage, no potential impacts to commercial fisheries have been scoped out of the assessment, on the basis of the baseline commercial fisheries information currently available and the Proposed Development description outlined in section 2  Open ▸ .

 

Table 7.1: Impacts Proposed to be Scoped In to the Proposed Development Assessment for Commercial Fisheries. Project Phase Refers to Construction (C), Operation and Maintenance (O) and Decommissioning (D) Phase of the Proposed Development

 

7.1.7.    Proposed Approach to the Environmental Impact Assessment

554. The commercial fisheries EIA will follow the methodology set out in section 4  Open ▸ . Specific to the commercial fisheries EIA, the following guidance documents will also be considered:

• FLOWW Best Practice Guidance for Offshore Renewables Developments: Recommendations for Fisheries Liaison: FLOWW (Fishing Liaison with Offshore Wind and Wet Renewables Group) (FLOWW, 2014);
• FLOWW Best Practice Guidance for Offshore Renewables Developments: Recommendations for Fisheries Disruption Settlements and Community Funds. FLOWW (Fishing Liaison with Offshore Wind and Wet Renewables Group) (FLOWW, 2015);
• Best practice guidance for fishing industry financial and economic impact assessments (UKFEN, 2012);
• Options and opportunities for marine fisheries mitigation associated with wind farms (Blyth-Skyrme, 2010); and
• Fishing and Submarine Cables - Working Together (ICPC, 2009).
  555. The commercial fisheries EIA will also consider any new guidance and updates to existing guidance as and where applicable, including the Marine Scotland Science guidance for ‘Assessing Fisheries Displacement’ when publicly available.

Potential Cumulative Effects

556. There is potential for cumulative impacts to occur on commercial fisheries as a result of other projects or activities. In particular fishing closures within Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in relation to the Firth of Forth Banks Complex ncMPA. The cumulative effects assessment will follow the approach outlined in section 4.3.7.
557. The projects or activities included in the cumulative assessment may vary depending on the fishery under consideration (e.g. depending on the extent of grounds and operational range of the vessels involved).

Potential Transboundary Impacts

558. A screening of transboundary impacts has been carried out and is presented in Appendix 3  Open . The potential for transboundary effects has been identified for commercial fisheries receptors and will be considered within the EIAR.

7.1.8.    Scoping Questions to Consultees

• Are there any additional datasets to those included in Appendix 11  Open that you feel should be reviewed to characterise the commercial fisheries baseline?
• Do you agree that all potential impacts have been identified for commercial fisheries receptors?

7.1.9.    Next Steps

Consultation with fisheries stakeholders is on-going and will continue throughout the application process. Details on the proposed next steps with regard to consultation are provided in section 4.3.4. In particular, in identifying any mitigation measures following assessment of significance of effect, SSER will consider types of fishing within the Proposed Development and will engage with the wider fishing industry to seek broad agreement of such measures. Clarity will be provided regarding the level of commitment to such measures.

 

7.2.        Shipping and Navigation

7.2.1.    Introduction

559. This section of the Offshore EIA Scoping Report identifies the elements of shipping and navigation of relevance to the Proposed Development and considers the potential impacts from the construction, operation and maintenance, and decommissioning of the offshore and intertidal components (seaward of the Mean High Water Springs (MHWS) mark) of the Proposed Development on shipping and navigation receptors.
560. Shipping and navigation were reported on in the initial Scoping Report. Although the change in project scope applied to this Scoping Report, which is combining the offshore Proposed Development Array Areas, the impacts are anticipated to generally be the same as identified in the initial Scoping Report. The initial Berwick Bank Wind Farm Proposal Scoping Opinion response has been considered for the development of this section.

7.2.2.    Study Area

561. In the majority, data has been considered within a 10 nautical mile (nm) buffer of the Proposed Development Array Area (the “shipping and navigation study area”), as shown in Figure 7.3  Open ▸ . The shipping and navigation study area is large enough to encompass vessel routeing which has the potential to be impacted, while remaining site-specific to the Proposed Development. The shipping and navigation study area is standard for shipping and navigation assessments and has been agreed in consultation with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB) and Trinity House (as per Appendix 5  Open ).
562. Relevant features in vicinity to the Proposed Development ECC have also been considered with a study area around the Proposed Development ECC to be defined in the Navigational Risk Assessment (NRA) for vessel traffic analysis.
563. A regional shipping and navigation study area of 50 nm from the Proposed Development Array Area will also be considered to assess the effects from the Proposed Development when considered together with other projects or activities (see section 7.2.8).

Figure 7.3: Overview of Proposed Development and Shipping and Navigation Study Area

7.2.3.    Baseline Environment

564. This section provides a concise summary of the baseline environment of the Proposed Development for navigational features, vessel traffic and marine incidents, reference should be made to Appendix 12  Open where a more detailed description is provided.

Desktop Study

565. An initial desk-based review of literature and data sources has been undertaken to establish the baseline environment. The data sources considered are summarised at Table 7.2  Open ▸ below.

 

Table 7.2: Summary of Key Desktop Data Sources

 

Site-specific Survey Data

566. A requirement of Marine Guidance Note (MGN) 654 is for a minimum of 28 days of seasonally varied data which is usually collected during two, 14-day surveys, in summer and winter. Therefore, on-site vessel traffic surveys have been undertaken during two 14-day periods, in July 2020 and January 2021 following agreement with key stakeholders including the MCA and NLB. These surveys involved the collection of Automatic Identification System (AIS), visual observations and Radio Detection and Ranging (Radar) data, thus ensuring comprehensive coverage of non-AIS vessels.
567. It is acknowledged that COVID-19 has had a global effect on shipping movements and therefore the vessel traffic surveys may not be fully reflective of “normal” activity, particularly the summer survey. This has been discussed with key stakeholders and an additional 12-month AIS dataset (covering 2019) has been used to validate the vessel traffic survey data in the NRA. Other data sources will also be used to validate the vessel traffic survey data including Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) data, the RYA Coastal Atlas (RYA, 2019) and further consultation with RYA Scotland and local clubs.

Baseline Characterisation

Navigational Features

568. Navigational features have been identified via a review of Admiralty Charts and the local Admiralty Sailing Directions (United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO), 2016).
569. The key navigational features in proximity to the Proposed Development are a number of other planned offshore wind farms, Ministry of Defence (MoD) practice areas, ammunition dumping grounds, spoil grounds and anchorage areas. Numerous charted wrecks and aids to navigation are also present in proximity to the Proposed Development. A plot of these key navigational features is provided in Appendix 12  Open .
570. There are three other planned offshore wind farms located in proximity to the Proposed Development. The Seagreen Offshore Wind Farm is located approximately 2.2 nm north of the Proposed Development Array Area and has been consented with construction expected to commence in 2022. Inch Cape and Neart na Gaoithe (NnG) are located approximately 2.2 nm and 7.8 nm west of the Proposed Development Proposed Development Array Area, respectively. Both are consented with offshore construction of NnG ongoing (including a buoyed construction area).
571. Two MoD practice areas are located in proximity to the Proposed Development. The D513 practice firing area is located approximately 16 nm south east of the Proposed Development Proposed Development Array Area. The D604 practice firing range is located approximately 23 nm west of the Proposed Development Proposed Development Array Area. Both firing practice areas are operated using a clear range procedure.
572. A number of anchorage areas are located to the west of the Proposed Development Array Area towards the coast primarily within the Firth of Forth.
573. Two disused ammunition dumping ground are located approximately 20 nm west of the Proposed Development Proposed Development Array Area.
574. Fourteen charted wrecks are located within the Proposed Development Proposed Development Array Area, with the shallowest at a depth of 35 m below Chart Datum (CD). Three buoys are also located within the Proposed Development Proposed Development Array Area; two in the east and one in the west. All three are special marks.

Vessel Traffic

575. Twenty-eight days of AIS and Radar vessel traffic data within the shipping and navigation study area, collected during summer 2020 and winter 2021, is shown in Figure 7.4  Open ▸ . It is noted that vessels involved in temporary, non-routine activities (e.g. vessels engaged in surveys) have been removed. This includes vessels visiting planned nearby offshore wind farm developments since these developments were not operational at the time of the surveys and this traffic is not considered representative of future operational traffic associated with these offshore wind farms.
576. An average of 14 unique vessels were recorded per day within the shipping and navigation study area during summer 2020, with an average of approximately six unique vessels per day intersecting the Proposed Development Proposed Development Array Area. An average of 16 unique vessels were recorded per day within the shipping and navigation study area during winter 2021, with an average of approximately six unique vessels per day intersecting the Proposed Development Proposed Development Array Area.
577. The main vessel types recorded during summer 2020 were tankers (34%), cargo vessels (30%) and fishing vessels (18%). The main vessel types recorded during winter 2021 were cargo vessels (36%), tankers (31%) and fishing vessels (15%).
578. The most regular destinations for vessels within the shipping and navigation study area were all United Kingdom (UK) east coast ports including Aberdeen (11%), Grangemouth (7%) and Immingham (5%).
579. Anchoring was also assessed for the 28 days of AIS v and Radar vessel traffic data (excluding temporary activities) based on the navigational status broadcast on AIS and a manual check for patterns characteristic of anchoring activity. No anchoring was observed during either the summer or winter periods within the Proposed Development Array Area or the Proposed Development ECC. It is noted that further anchoring activity assessment will be undertaken in the NRA using a speed analysis, in which vessels travelling at under one knot for more than 30 minutes are flagged as possible anchoring activity.

Marine Incidents

580. An analysis of the MAIB incident data from 2010 to 2019 indicated that a total of four incidents, all involving fishing vessels, were recorded within the shipping and navigation study area, but all occurred outside the Proposed Development Proposed Development Array Area. A further four incidents, involving four fishing vessels and one tanker (one of the incidents involved two vessels), were reported to the MAIB within the Proposed Development ECC, all within the northern landfall option.
581. An analysis of the RNLI incident data from 2010 to 2019 indicated that a total of 20 incidents were recorded within the shipping and navigation study area, with two of these occurring within the Proposed Development Proposed Development Array Area. Incidents either involved recreational vessels (75%) or fishing vessels (25%). A further 18 incidents were recorded within the Proposed Development ECC; five of these incidents were recorded within the southern landfall option, and 13 within the northern landfall option.
582. Within the NRA an additional 10 years of MAIB incident data will be considered qualitatively as a secondary dataset with consideration for the advancement in technology and changes to legislation that have improved maritime safety over the past 10 and 20 years.

 

Figure 7.4: 28 Days Summer and Winter 2020/2021 AIS Marine Traffic

7.2.4.    Potential Proposed Development Impacts

583. A range of potential impacts on shipping and navigation have been identified which may occur during the construction, operation and maintenance, and decommissioning phases of the Proposed Development in the absence of designed in measures:

• Construction

–           Vessel displacement;

–           Increased vessel to vessel collision risk between a third-party vessel and a project vessel;

–           Increased vessel to vessel collision risk;

–           Vessel to structure allision risk; and

–           Reduced access to local ports.

• Operation and Maintenance

–           Commercial traffic displacement;

–           Fishing vessel and recreational vessel displacement;

–           Increased vessel to vessel collision risk between a third-party vessel and a project vessel;

–           Increased vessel to vessel collision risk between third-party vessels (route-based);

–           Increased vessel to vessel collision risk involving fishing vessels and/or recreational vessels;

–           Vessel to structure allision risk for commercial vessels;

–           Vessel to structure allision risk for fishing vessels in transit;

–           Vessel to structure allision risk for recreational vessels;

–           Reduced access to local ports;

–           Reduction of under keel clearance;

–           Anchor interaction with subsea cables;

–           Interference with marine navigation, communications and position fixing equipment; and

–           Reduction of emergency response capability

• Decommissioning

–           As per Construction phase

7.2.5.    Designed in Measures

584. The following designed in measures can reduce potential for impact for those impacts that have been scoped into the Proposed Development assessment.

• compliance with MGN 654 and its annexes (in particular Search and Rescue (SAR) annex 5 (MCA, 2021) and completion of a SAR checklist) where applicable;
• appropriate marking on UKHO Admiralty Charts;
• promulgation of information for vessel routes, timings and locations, safety zones and advisory passing distances as required via Kingfisher Bulletins;
• buoyed construction area in agreement with NLB;
• application for safety zones of up to 500 m during construction and periods of major maintenance;
• marine coordination and communication to manage project vessel movements;
• suitable implementation and monitoring of cable protection (via burial, or external protection where adequate burial depth as identified via risk assessment is not feasible) with any damage, destruction or decay of cables notified to MCA, NLB, Kingfisher and UKHO no later than 24 hours after discovered;
• marking and lighting of the site in agreement with NLB and in line with IALA Recommendation O-139 (IALA, 2013);
• compliance of all Proposed Development vessels with international marine regulations as adopted by the Flag State, notably the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs) (IMO, 1974) and the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) (IMO, 1974);
• production of a Marine Pollution Contingency Plan;
• blade clearance of at least 37 m above MHWS (in line with RYA policy (RYA, 2015)); and
• guard vessel(s) as required by risk assessment.
  585. The requirement and feasibility of additional measures will be dependent on the significance of the effects on shipping and navigation and will be consulted upon with statutory consultees throughout the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process (see section 7.2.7).

7.2.6.    Potential Impacts after the Implementation of designed in measures

586. The impacts that have been scoped into the Proposed Development assessment are outlined in Table 7.3  Open ▸ together with a description of any additional data collection (e.g. site-specific surveys) and/or supporting analyses (e.g. modelling) that will be required to enable a full assessment of the impacts.
587. At this stage, no potential impacts have been scoped out of the assessment, in line with the assessment parameters set out in MGN 654 (MCA, 2021) which requires that the NRA determine which impacts (if any) may be scoped out of the assessment undertaken in the EIA Report.

 

Table 7.3: Impacts Proposed to be Scoped In to the Proposed Development Assessment for Shipping and Navigation. Project Phase Refers to Construction (C), Operation and Maintenance (O) and Decommissioning (D) Phase of the Proposed Development

 

 

7.2.7.    Proposed Approach to the Environmental Impact Assessment

The shipping and navigation EIA will follow the methodology set out in section 4. Specific to the shipping and navigation EIA, the following guidance documents will also be considered:

• MGN 654 Offshore Renewable Energy Installations (OREIs) – Guidance on UK Navigational Practice, Safety and Emergency Response (MCA, 2021);
• Revised Guidelines for Formal Safety Assessment (FSA) (IMO, 2018);
• International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) Recommendation O-139 on the Marking of Man-Made Offshore Structures (IALA, 2013);
• MGN 372 Offshore Renewable Energy Installations (OREIs) – Guidance to Mariners Operating in the Vicinity of United Kingdom (UK) OREIs (MCA, 2008);
• The RYA’s Position on Offshore Energy Developments: Paper 1 – Wind Energy (RYA, 2015).
  588. As per the MCA methodology (Annex 1 of MGN 654), an NRA will be undertaken, the output of which will form the primary input into the Offshore EIAR. Given that the NRA includes a set of criteria under MGN 654 which must be considered, no impacts will be scoped out of the NRA process, as noted in section 7.2.6.
  589. The IMO FSA methodology is the internationally recognised approach for assessing the impacts to shipping and navigation receptors, and is the approach required under the MCA methodology. This methodology is centred on risk control and assesses each impact in terms of its frequency and consequence so that its significance can be determined as:
• “Broadly Acceptable”;
• “Tolerable”; or
• “Unacceptable”.
  590. Any impacts assessed as “Unacceptable” will require additional measures implemented beyond those considered designed in measures, so that the significance of the impact is reduced to within “Tolerable” or “Broadly Acceptable” parameters.
  591. The significance of each impact assessed will be determined via a risk ranking matrix based on the frequency and consequence of the impact. The frequency and consequence of each impact will be related to parameters within the IMO FSA guidance and agreed at the Hazard Workshop. The risk ranking matrix is presented in Table 7.4  Open ▸ . The frequency and consequence rankings of each impact will be determined using a number of inputs, including:
• quantitative modelling undertaken in the NRA;
• output of the baseline assessment;
• consideration of designed in measures;
• lessons learnt from other offshore wind farm developments;
• level of stakeholder concern;
• consultation output; and
• expert opinion.

Table 7.4: Risk Ranking Matrix

Potential Cumulative Effects

592. There is potential for cumulative effects to occur on shipping and navigation receptors as a result of other projects or activities. The cumulative effects assessment will follow the approach outlined in section 4.3.7. Offshore wind farms and any other relevant marine activity within the 50 nm shipping and navigation study area will be considered in the cumulative effects assessment with a screening process undertaken to determine which developments and activities should be considered in the assessment of cumulative effects.
593. Where relevant, impacts assessed within the NRA process for the Proposed Development in isolation (see section 7.2.4) will also be assessed for potential cumulative effect. In line with the approach for the isolation case, no cumulative effects will be scoped out for the NRA, noting the assessment criteria required under MGN 654.

Potential Transboundary Impacts

594. A screening of transboundary impacts has been carried out and is presented Appendix 3  Open . The potential for transboundary effects has been identified for shipping and navigation receptors and will be considered within the EIAR.

7.2.8.    Scoping Questions to Consultees

595. Based on the findings of the Offshore EIA Scoping Report, the following questions should be considered by stakeholders seeking to respond:

• Do you agree that the data sources available relating to navigational features is sufficient to inform the assessment of shipping and navigation impacts?
• Do you agree that the designed in measures described provide a suitable means for managing and mitigating the potential effects of the Proposed Development on shipping and navigation receptors?
• Do you agree that the list of organisations provided for engagement and consultation (section7.2.9) are sufficient?
• What scoped or application projects should be considered within the cumulative assessment? What effects might be seen at a cumulative level?

7.2.9.    Next Steps

596. The output of this Offshore EIA Scoping Report (specifically the Scoping Opinion) will feed into the NRA, which will be drafted in support of the EIA Report as required under the MCA methodology (MCA, 2021). In addition, the Scoping Opinion on the initial Berwick Bank Wind Farm proposal will also be considered.
597. The primary purpose of the NRA is to identify scoped in impacts that require further assessment within the EIA. The NRA process will also include consultation with both statutory and non-statutory stakeholders including Regular Operators identified throughout AIS analysis.
598. In order to inform the shipping and navigation EIA, consultation during the pre-application phase, including a Hazard Workshop, is planned with the following statutory and non-statutory organisations:

• MCA;
• NLB;
• Chamber of Shipping (CoS);
• RYA;
• Cruising Association;
• Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF);
• regular vessel operators;
• North and East coast Regional Inshore fisheries Group (via the commercial fisheries stakeholder engagement)
• RNLI; and
• local port operators (including Forth Ports and relevant municipal ports).
  599. Consultation undertaken to date with stakeholders is presented in Appendix 5  Open , and this will be undertaken through the Shipping and Navigation Road Map process.

 

7.3.        Aviation, Military and Communications

7.3.1.    Introduction

600. This section of the Offshore EIA Scoping Report identifies the elements of aviation, military and communications of relevance to the Proposed Development and considers the potential impacts from the construction, operation and maintenance, and decommissioning of the offshore and intertidal components (seaward of the MHWS mark) of the Proposed Development on aviation, military and communications receptors.
601. The potential effects of wind turbines on aviation are widely publicised, but the primary concern is one of safety. Despite innumerable subtleties in the actual effects, there are two dominant scenarios that lead to potential impacts:

• physical obstruction: wind turbines can present a physical obstruction to aircraft; and
• impacts on aviation radar systems and the provision of radar-based Air Traffic Services (ATS): wind turbines can create unwanted radar clutter which appears on radar displays and can affect the provision of ATS to pilots. Radar clutter (or false radar returns) can confuse air traffic controllers making it difficult to differentiate between aircraft and those radar returns resulting from the detection of turbines. Furthermore, the appearance of multiple false targets in close proximity can generate false aircraft tracks and seduce those returns from ‘real’ aircraft away from the true aircraft position.
  602. Aviation, military and communications were reported on in the initial Scoping Report. Although the change in project scope applied to this Scoping Report, which is combining the offshore Proposed Development Array Areas, the impacts are anticipated to generally be the same as identified in the initial Scoping Report. The initial Berwick Bank Wind Farm Proposal Scoping Opinion response has been considered for the development of this section.

7.3.2.    Study Area

603. The aviation, military and communications study area has been determined by the range of the affected aviation receptors; in particular, Air Traffic Control (ATC) and Air Defence (AD) Primary Surveillance Radars (PSRs). The operating range of these radars can be up to 200 nm (370 km); however, it is only the likely radar coverage over the Proposed Development that has been taken into account and assisted in identifying the relevant radars, and stakeholders, that may be affected. The aviation, military and communications study area can be seen in Figure 7.5  Open ▸ together with the locations of the relevant aviation receptors.
604. The construction, operation and maintenance, and decommissioning of the Proposed ECC will not affect aviation and therefore no infrastructure relating to the proposed ECC will be considered; as such, this has not been considered when defining the aviation, military and communications study area.

7.3.3.    Baseline Environment

Desktop Study

605. An initial desk-based review of literature and data sources to support this Offshore EIA Scoping Report has identified a number of baseline datasets. These are summarised at Table 7.5  Open ▸ below.

 

Table 7.5: Summary of Key Desktop Reports

 

Site-specific Data

606. Pre-planning radar-line-of-sight (RLOS) assessments by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and National Air Traffic Services En-Route PLC (NERL) will be undertaken to inform the Offshore EIAR. To inform this Offshore EIA Scoping Report an assessment of the likely impacts, backed-up by an ‘in-house’ database of civilian and military radar coverage, has been carried out.

Baseline Characterisation

607. The Proposed Development is located in close proximity, and to the south, of the consented Seagreen Alpha/Bravo project. As such, the potential impact on aviation, in particular aviation radar systems, will be similar to those assessed for Seagreen Alpha/Bravo ; therefore, data collected to inform the Seagreen Alpha/Bravo Environmental Statement (Seagreen Wind Energy, 2012), Scoping Report (Seagreen Wind Energy, 2017) and Environmental Statement (Seagreen Wind Energy, 2018) are appropriate sources of information to inform the assessment of impacts for the Proposed Development. An initial desk-based review has been undertaken to consider the aviation aspects likely to be affected by the Proposed Development utilising these, as well as other available datasets.
608. There are a number of civilian and military aviation interests which the Proposed Development could affect (see Figure 7.5  Open ▸ ). As a result, there is a potential aviation safety risk and the Proposed Development may only proceed once all parties are content that any risks are resolved.
609. A detailed desk-top review will be undertaken to characterise existing and future aviation, military and communications baseline conditions in the aviation, military and communications study area to inform the Offshore EIAR. This will be undertaken by reviewing the relevant aviation legislation and guidance documents, as well as data sources such as aviation flying charts and other flight information publications; in particular, the UK Integrated Aeronautical Information Package (UK IAIP).

Figure 7.5:  Aviation, Military and Communications Study Area and Associated Identified Receptors

610. An initial review of the aviation, military and communications study area has been carried out in order to identify which aviation activities might be affected by the Proposed Development; this included the following aviation receptors:

• civil airport patterns and procedures;
• military aerodrome patterns and procedures;
• civil ATC radar;
• military ATC radar;
• military AD radar;
• military low flying;
• Helicopter Main Routes (HMRs);
• offshore helicopter operations (including Search and Rescue); and
• offshore helicopter installations (oil and gas platforms).
  611. In terms of airspace, the western portion of the Proposed Development is located underneath Airway P18 (see Figure 7.5  Open ▸ ) which is primarily used by commercial aircraft routing to, and from, Aberdeen Airport; the airway is activated upwards from Flight Level (FL) 115 (11,500 ft) in the northwest section of the Proposed Development and from FL 155 (15,500 ft) in the southwest section. The north-eastern portion of the Proposed Development overlaps the lateral boundaries of Danger Areas D613C and D613D (see Figure 7.5  Open ▸ ). These Danger Areas are activated periodically from FL 100 (10,000 ft) to FL 660 (66,000 ft) for military air combat training and supersonic flight. The presence of wind turbines within the boundaries of these Danger Areas, and just outside the boundaries of Airway P18, are not in themselves expected to impact on aviation operations. This will be covered in detail in the EIA Report.
  612. From the review, it was confirmed that the Proposed Development was sufficiently distant from civil airports and military aerodromes to have any potential impact on their patterns and procedures. The nearest civil airport is Aberdeen Airport and the nearest military aerodrome is Leuchars station; both of which are identified on Figure 7.5  Open ▸ . It was also determined that there were no HMRs or offshore helicopter installations that would be affected by the Proposed Development. As a result, these aviation receptors can be scoped out of the EIA while the remaining receptors (civil ATC radar, military ATC radar, military AD radar, military low flying and offshore helicopter operations (including SAR)) remain scoped in.
  613. The key potential aviation issues to resolve are associated with the impact of wind turbines on civilian and military PSR systems; including ATC and AD PSR systems. The initial assessment has determined that there are five relevant ATC and AD PSR systems located throughout eastern Scotland and northern England. These radars provide coverage over much of the North Sea and could potentially be affected by the Proposed Development. The relevant civilian and military PSRs are as follows:
• Ministry of Defence (MoD) Brizlee Wood AD PSR;
• MoD Buchan AD PSR;
• MoD Leuchars Station ATC PSR;
• National Air Traffic Services (En-Route) PLC
• (NERL) Allanshill ATC PSR; and
• NERL Perwinnes ATC PSR.
  614. Any adverse impact on these PSRs will be formally confirmed once MoD and NERL carry out pre-planning radar-line-of-sight (RLOS) assessments.

7.3.4.    Potential Proposed Development Impacts

615. A range of potential impacts on aviation, military and communications receptors have been identified which may occur during the construction, operation and maintenance, and decommissioning phases of the Proposed Development in the absence of designed in measures:

• Construction

–           Potential impact on low flying (including SAR helicopter operations) due to presence of obstacles (cranes, stationary wind turbines).

–           Potential impacts on civil airport patterns and procedures due to presence of obstacles (cranes, stationary wind turbines).

–           Potential impact on military aerodrome patterns and procedures due to presence of obstacles (cranes, stationary wind turbines).

–           Potential impacts on Helicopter Main Routes (HMRs) due to presence of WTGs.

–           Potential impacts on Offshore helicopter installations (oil & gas platforms) due to the presence of WTGs.

• Operation and Maintenance

–           During the operation and maintenance phases, the movement of the wind turbine blades can interfere with civil and military PSR systems:

• Potential impact on NERL ATC radars due to presence of wind turbines;
• Potential impact on Military ATC radars due to presence of wind turbines;
• Potential impact on Military AD radars due to presence of wind turbines; and
• Potential impact on low flying (including SAR helicopter operations) due to presence of wind turbines.

• Decommissioning

–           Potential impact on low flying aircraft (including SAR helicopter operations) due to presence of obstacles (e.g. cranes, stationary wind turbines).

7.3.5.    Designed in Measures

616. The following designed in measures, and how these can reduce potential for impact have been considered in identification of impacts that have been scoped into the Proposed Development assessment (Table 7.6  Open ▸ ):

• adherence to Civil Aviation Publication (CAP) 393 Article 223 (Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), 2018) which sets out the mandatory requirements for lighting of offshore wind turbines to be followed. This will require approval and implementation of a Lighting and Marking Plan (LMP) which will set out specific requirements in terms of aviation lighting to be installed on the wind turbines. The LMP will be prepared in consultation with the CAA and other aviation stakeholders and will take into account requirements for aviation lighting as specified in Article 223 of the UK Air Navigation Order (ANO) 2016 and changes to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Annex 14 Volume 2, Section 6, paragraph 6.2.4 promulgated in November 2016; and
• all structures > 91.4 m in height will be charted on aeronautical charts and reported to the Defence Geographic Centre (DGC) which maintains the UKs database of tall structures (Digital Vertical Obstruction File) at least ten weeks prior to construction.
  617. The requirement and feasibility of additional measures will be dependent on the significance of the effects on aviation, military and communications and will be consulted upon with statutory consultees throughout the EIA process.

7.3.6.    Potential Impacts after the Implementation of designed in measures

618.         The impacts that have been scoped into the Proposed Development assessment are outlined in Table 7.6  Open ▸ together with a description of any supporting analyses (e.g. modelling) that will be required to enable a full assessment of the impacts.
619.         At this stage, potential impacts to civil airport and military aerodrome patterns and procedures, HMRs and offshore helicopter installations within the aviation, military and communications study area have been scoped out of the assessment, described in Table 7.7  Open ▸ .

 

Table 7.6: Impacts Proposed to be Scoped In to the Proposed Development Assessment for Aviation, Military and Communications. Project phase refers to construction (C), operation and maintenance (O) and decommissioning (D) phase of the Proposed Development

 

 

Table 7.7: Potential Impacts Proposed to be Scoped Out of the Proposed Development Assessment for Aviation, Military and Communications

 

7.3.7.    Proposed Approach to the Environmental Impact Assessment

620. The aviation, military and communications offshore EIA will follow the methodology set out in section 4  Open ▸ . Specific to the aviation, military and communications EIA, the following guidance documents will also be considered:

• CAP 393 – Air Navigation: The Order and the Regulations (2016);
• CAP 670 - Air Traffic Services Safety Requirements (Issue 3, 7 June 2019);
• CAP 764 - CAA Policy and Guidelines on Wind Turbines (Version 6, February 2016);
• CAP 774 - The UK Flight Information Services (Version 3, 25 May 2017);
• CAP 032 - UK Integrated Aeronautical Information Package (2020);
• Military Aviation Authority (MAA): MAA Regulatory Publication 3000 Series: Air Traffic Management Regulations (21 September 2018);
• MAA: Manual of Military Air Traffic Management (30 September 2019);
• UK Military Aeronautical Information Publication (2020);
• Marine Guidance Note (MGN) 543: Offshore Renewable Energy Installations - Guidance on UK Navigational Practice, Safety and Emergency Response Issues (19 August 2016); and
• Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Visual Flight Rules Chart (CAA, 2020).

Potential Cumulative Effects

621. Although the predicted effects from the Proposed Development on aviation, military and communications receptors are considered to be localised to within the footprint of the Proposed Development, there is potential for the predicted impacts to interact with impacts from other projects and activities in the aviation, military and communications study area which may lead to a cumulative effect on receptors. The cumulative effects assessment will follow the approach outlined in section 4.3.7.
622. The cumulative assessment will consider other offshore wind farms and associated helicopter requirements within the aviation, military and communications study area.

Potential Transboundary Impacts

623. A screening of transboundary impacts has been carried out and is presented in Appendix 3  Open . No potential transboundary effects have been identified for aviation, military and communication and therefore this will not be considered within the EIAR.

7.3.8.    Scoping Questions to Consultees

• Do you agree that the existing data available to describe the aviation, military and communications baseline remains sufficient to describe the physical environment in relation to the Proposed Development?
• Do you agree that the designed in measures described provides a suitable means for managing and mitigating the potential effects of the Proposed Development on the aviation, military and communications receptors?
• Do you agree that the assessment of aviation, military and communications receptors should be scoped out of the Proposed Development EIA?
• Do you agree with the proposal to scope transboundary impacts out of the EIA?

7.3.9.    Next Steps

624. Consultation will commence with the relevant aviation, military and communications stakeholders, in particular MoD and NERL, to ensure that the key aviation impacts are clearly identified prior to submission of the EIA Report. This will also allow mitigations discussions to take place early to ensure that suitable mitigations solutions can reduce potential significance of effect prior to Application. In particular:

• the MOD will be consulted in regard to potential impacts from the final agreed ECC including in relation to UXO clearance;
• consultation with NATS will be undertaken to establish appropriate mitigation for potential adverse impact on Perwinnes PSR;
• the CAA as part of pre-Application engagement; and
• the MOD will be consulted on the Proposed Development aviation lighting and marking plan and the implementation of suitable ATC and AD PSR solutions.

 

7.4.        Marine Archaeology

7.4.1.    Introduction

625. This section of the Offshore EIA Scoping Report identifies marine archaeology resources of relevance to the Proposed Development and considers the potential impacts from the construction, operation and maintenance, and decommissioning of the offshore and intertidal components (seaward of the MLWS mark) of the Proposed Development on marine archaeology resources.
626. Marine archaeology was included in the initial Offshore EIA Scoping Report. Although the change in project scope applied to this Offshore EIA Scoping Report, which is combining the offshore Proposed Development Array Areas, the impacts are anticipated to generally be the same as identified in the initial Scoping Report. The initial Berwick Bank Proposal Scoping Opinion response has been considered for the development of this section. SSER intends to scope out marine archaeology as per the initial Offshore EIA Scoping Report.

7.4.2.    Study Area

627. The marine archaeology study area is defined as the area encompassing the offshore components of the Proposed Development (i.e. the Proposed Development Array Area and proposed ECC seaward of MLWS) as this area is considered to be directly affected by the Proposed Development. A 2 km buffer to allow the site-specific data to be put in a wider context (Figure 7.6  Open ▸ ) has been applied.

7.4.3.    Baseline Environment

628. This section provides a concise summary of the baseline environment of the Proposed Development, reference should be made to Appendix 13  Open where a more detailed description is provided.
629. A geophysical survey of the Proposed Development was undertaken between August and October 2019. The data were collected to a specification appropriate to achieve the following interpretation requirements:

• Magnetometer: identification of anomalies > 5 nT;
• SSS: ensonification of anomalies > 0.3 m;
• SBP: penetration > 10 m; and
• Multibeam bathymetry: ensonification of anomalies < 1.0 m.
  630. All data were collected and referenced relative to the WGS84 datum and UTM30N projection. Details of the survey specification of the offshore and nearshore geophysical surveys are presented within Appendix 13  Open . An overview of the known archaeological features is provided below.
  631. There are no protected areas or statutory designations recorded in relation to submerged landscapes within the limits of the Proposed Development. It is also considered unlikely that evidence of in situ Palaeolithic and Mesolithic activity will be found within the limits of the Proposed Development Array Area due to the effects of repeated glaciations, marine transgressions and associated fluvial activity.
  632. There is however some paleoenvironmental potential within the Aberdeen Ground Formation. Within the ECC there is some potential for late Palaeolithic/Mesolithic deposits in the near shore area. However, due to the effects of erosion, redeposited material is more likely than in situ evidence. In addition, the localised presence of peat buried in the Quaternary deposits within the ECC could suggest a good palaeo-environmental potential and where these sediments are present there is a good potential for organic preservation of remains such as fish traps. These are likely to be associated with prehistoric exploitation of the coastal margins.
  633. There has been one designated wreck recorded within the limits of the Proposed Development (U 12 SSS_2020_0165 – a designated war grave) which falls within the protection of the Protection of Military Remains Act.
  634. There are 20 wrecks recorded by the project specific geophysical survey within the Proposed Development Array Area, of these, four are known wrecks: Oswin, Kitty, Burnstone and U12 (discussed above). Of the remaining 16 wrecks, 14 are also recorded as UKHO data. The remaining two wrecks may represent one of the 16 wrecks recorded on the NRHE as potentially lying within the Proposed Development Array Area (although none of their positions have been verified: Figure 7.7  Open ▸ ).
  635. No wrecks were recorded within the limits of the ECC during the Proposed Development geophysical survey carried out in 2019 (although the survey did not cover the full extent of the ECC). There are eight wrecks and obstructions recorded on the UKHO that lie beyond the extent of the survey and so their locations must still be assumed at this stage (UKHO 2873, UKHO 2875 Sharon Vale, UKHO 2884, UKHO 2890, UKHO 2892, UKHO2904 Cradock, UKHO 3101 Obstruction, UKHO 63948). These are illustrated in Figure 7.7  Open ▸ .
  636. A further 43 unconfirmed anomalies of medium archaeological potential and 119 large magnetic anomalies of archaeological potential were recorded within the limits of the Proposed Development. Some of these anomalies may be associated with wrecks recorded on the UKHO or NRHE that have no known position, or they could represent anomalies of as yet unknown archaeological interest (shown in Figure 7.7  Open ▸ ).

Figure 7.6: Marine Archaeology Study Area

Figure 7.7: Positions of Known Wrecks (High Archaeological Potential) and Potential Wrecks (Medium Archaeological Anomalies) and as yet Unverified Recorded Wrecks

7.4.4.    Potential Proposed Development Impacts

637. A range of potential impacts on marine archaeology have been identified which may occur during the construction, operation and maintenance, and decommissioning phases of the Proposed Development in the absence of designed in measures:

• Construction

–           Construction activities including installation of wind turbine foundations and substation foundations, use of jack-up vessel during foundation installation, installation of array cables and offshore export cable and anchor placement during cable installation may affect archaeological remains.

• Operation and Maintenance

–           Component replacement and cable repair activities including use of jack-up vessel may affect archaeological remains.

• Decommissioning

–           As for construction phase.

7.4.5.    Designed in Measures

638. As part of the Proposed Development design process, a number of designed in measures are proposed to reduce the potential for impacts on marine archaeology (see Table 7.8  Open ▸ ). As there is a commitment to implementing these measures, they are considered inherently part of the design and will evolve over the development process as the EIA progresses and will inform the preparation of a Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI) and Protocol for Archaeological Discoveries (PAD). These measures are considered standard industry practice for this type of development.
639. When taking into account the baseline marine archaeology information (Appendix 13  Open ), the designed in measures included and the Proposed Development description outlined in section 2  Open ▸ , all impacts are proposed to be scoped out of the assessment for marine archaeology. These impacts are outlined, together with a justification for scoping them out, in Table 7.9  Open ▸ .

 

Table 7.8: Designed in Measures to be Adopted as Part of the Proposed Development

 

Table 7.9: Impacts Proposed to be Scoped Out of the Proposed Development Assessment for Marine Archaeology

 

7.4.6.    Proposed Approach to the Environmental Impact Assessment

640. The marine archaeology EIA, should it be required and agreement to scope out is not reached, will follow the methodology set out in section 4  Open ▸ . A marine archaeology Technical Report has been prepared to characterise the baseline conditions for the Proposed Development, and an associated WSI has also been prepared. Specific to the marine archaeology, the following guidance documents will also be considered:

• Marine Scotland Act 2010;
• Protection of Military Remains Act 1986;
• Ancient Monuments and Areas Act 1979;
• Merchant Shipping Act 1995;
• Marine Policy Statement 2011;
• Standard and guidance for historic environment desk-based assessment (Chartered Institute for Archaeologists, 2014);
• Scottish National Marine Plan (Scottish Government, 2015); and
• Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (HES, 2019).

Technical Report and WSI

641. Information on marine archaeology has been collected through a detailed desktop review of existing studies and datasets from the following principal primary sources:

• records of UKHO wrecks and obstructions;
• records of MPAs held by Historic Scotland in their online Historic Environment Portal;
• catalogue of heritage sites recorded on the National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE) held by Historic Environment Scotland;
• records held in the Historic Environment Records of East Lothian and the Scottish Borders; and
• Proposed Development archaeological assessment of geophysical survey data undertaken by MSDS in 2021.
  642. The baseline data has been plotted to identify the general distribution of known and recorded shipping casualties and geophysical anomalies with archaeological potential. Information drawn from secondary sources and is presented within the Marine Archaeology Technical report and WSI. These have been used to qualitatively develop an understanding of the likelihood of unknown and unrecorded maritime archaeological sites. These reports will be provided to Marine Archaeology consultees for discussion.

7.4.7.    Scoping Questions to Consultees

• Do you agree with the Study Area as defined e.g. the Berwick Bank Offshore Wind Farm Proposed Development Array Area, the Berwick Bank Offshore Wind Farm ECC and a wider search area encompassing 2 km from the limits of the offshore Proposed Development up to the MLWS?
• Do you agree that the designed in measures described provides a suitable means for managing and mitigating the potential effects of the Proposed Development on the marine archaeology receptors?
• Do you agree that it is appropriate to scope out those impacts proposed to be scoped out that the assessment of marine archaeology receptors should be scoped out of the Proposed Development EIA?

7.4.8.    Next Steps

643. As Marine Archaeology is proposed to be scoped out of the Offshore EIAR, the next steps will be to reach agreement on this with the stakeholders via consultation. A Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI) and Technical Report has been developed for the Proposed Development and will be submitted to stakeholders for further discussion and agreement.

7.5.        Seascape, Landscape and Visual Resources

7.5.1.    Introduction

644. This section of the Scoping Report identifies the elements of the seascape, landscape and visual environment of relevance to the Proposed Development and considers the potential impacts from the construction, operation and maintenance, and decommissioning of the offshore and intertidal components (seaward of the MHWS mark) of the Proposed Development on seascape, landscape and visual receptors.
645. The initial Scoping Opinion request (Marine Scotland, 2021) has informed the preparation of this section of the Scoping Report. In particular, section 5.14 ‘Seascape, Landscape, Visual Resources and Cultural Heritage’ and Appendix I Consultation Representations and Advice from NatureScot, East Lothian Council, Scottish Borders Council and Northumberland County Council were relevant to seascape, landscape and visual resources. This stakeholder feedback has been considered in production of this Offshore EIA Scoping Report.
646. Seascape, landscape and visual elements were reported on in the initial Scoping Report. Due to the change in project scope being combining the offshore Proposed Development Array Areas, the anticipated significant effects have changed, as set out in this section. Therefore, advice is being sought on this change for seascape, landscape and visual resources.

7.5.2.    Study Area

647. The Proposed Development Array Area is located offshore in the Outer Forth and Firth of Tay area of the North Sea, approximately 33.35 km from the closest section of coastline at St. Abbs Head in the Scottish Borders, 34.1 km from the Angus coastline at Red Head and 36.6 km from the Fife coast at Fife Ness.
648. The seascape, landscape and visual impact assessment (SLVIA) study area for the Proposed Development is proposed as covering a radius of 60 km from the Proposed Development Array Area, as illustrated in Figure 7.8  Open ▸ .
649. Broadly, the SLVIA study area is defined by a large area of the seascape including parts of the Forth and Tay Estuaries and includes the coastal areas of Aberdeenshire, Angus, Fife, East Lothian, Scottish Borders and Northumberland.
650. The SLVIA will generally focus on locations from where it may be possible to see the Proposed Development, as defined by the blade tip Zone of Theoretical Visibility (ZTV), which is presented at Figure 7.15  Open ▸ (A3 scale).
651. Consideration of the blade tip ZTV indicates that theoretical visibility of the Proposed Development mainly occurs within 60 km and that beyond this distance, the geographic extent of visibility will become very restricted. At distances over 60 km, the lateral (or horizontal) spread of the Proposed Development will also occupy a small portion of available views and the apparent height (or ‘vertical angle’) of the wind turbines would also appear very small, therefore significant visual effects are unlikely to arise at greater than this distance, even if the wind turbines are theoretically visible.
652. The influence of earth curvature begins to limit the apparent height and visual influence of the wind turbines visible at long distances (such as over 60 km), as the lower parts of the turbines would be partially hidden behind the apparent horizon, leaving only the upper parts visible above the skyline.
653. The SLVIA study area is defined as the outer limit of the area where significant effects could occur, using professional judgement. Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment Guidance (IEMA, 2015 and 2017) recommends a proportionate EIA focused on the significant effects. An overly large SLVIA study area may be considered disproportionate if it makes the understanding of the key impacts of the Proposed Development more difficult.
654. This is supported by Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) Guidance produced by the Landscape Institute (GLVIA3) (Landscape Institute, 2013) (para 3.16). This guidance recommends that ‘The level of detail provided should be that which is reasonably required to assess the likely significant effects’. Para 5.2 and p70 also states that ‘The study area should include the site itself and the full extent of the wider landscape around it which the proposed development may influence in a significant manner’.
655. Other wind farm specific guidance, such as NatureScot’s Visual Representation of Wind Farms Guidance (NatureScot, 2017) recommends that ZTV distances are used for defining study area based on wind turbine height. This guidance recommends a 45 km radius for wind turbine greater than 150m to blade tip (para 48, p12), however it does not go beyond turbines above 150m in height. The height of current offshore wind turbine models has now exceeded the heights covered in this guidance. The NatureScot guidance recognises that greater distances may need to be considered for larger wind turbines used offshore, as is the case for the SLVIA study area for the Proposed Development.
656. Other projects in the SLVIA study area, such as Inch Cape and Seagreen 1, defined a 50 km radius study area for the purposes of their SLVIA. A precautionary approach is taken in defining a 60 km radius study area for the Proposed Development due to the larger proposed maximum blade tip height of 355 m above LAT.
657. The variation of weather conditions influencing visibility off the coast has also informed the SLVIA study area. Based on understanding of Met Office data, visibility beyond 60 km is likely to be very infrequent.
658. In considering the SLVIA study area, the sensitivity of the receiving seascape, landscape and visual receptors has also been reviewed, taking particular account of the landscape designations shown in Figure 7.14  Open ▸ and other visual receptors. These include the nationally designated Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), which is located approximately 43.5 km from the Proposed Development Proposed Development Array Area.
659. Potential cumulative effect interactions with other offshore wind farms (OWFs) have also influenced the definition of the SLVIA study area. Other offshore windfarms within the SLVIA study area are shown in Figure 7.8  Open ▸ .
660. Seascape, landscape and visual effects as a result of the Proposed Development are proposed to be scoped out beyond 60 km. The study area will be reviewed and amended in response to such matters as refinement of the Proposed Development, the identification of additional impact pathways and in response, where appropriate, to feedback from consultation.

7.5.3.    Baseline Environment

661. This section provides an initial overview of the baseline description provided in Appendix 14  Open .

Introduction

662. The SLVIA takes into account definitions of seascape by NatureScot (2012) para 1.8 ‘Seascapes refers to an area, as perceived by people, from land, sea or air, where the sea is a key element of the physical environment’, and ‘the visual and physical conjunction of land and sea which combines maritime, coast and hinterland character’. It also takes account of Natural England (2012), NPS EN3 (para 2.6.203) and that set out in the UK Marine Policy Statement (UK Government, 2011), which states that ‘…references to seascape should be taken as meaning landscapes with views of the coast or seas, and coasts and the adjacent marine environment with cultural, historical and archaeological links with each other’.
663. There is a subtle transition between seascape and landscape and the importance of the interaction of sea, coastline and land as perceived by people is highlighted in definitions of seascape. The seascape impact assessment in the SLVIA will therefore focus particularly on coastal areas of onshore landscape with views of the coast or seas and marine environment, as perceived by people, on the premise that the most important effect of offshore wind farms is on the perception of seascape character from the coast.

Figure 7.8:  SLVIA Study Area

 

Data Sources

664. Data sources used to collate the information for the SLVIA are set out in Appendix 14  Open .

Seascape Baseline

Scotland

665. The coastal character of the SLVIA study area within Scotland is defined at the regional level within the Regional Seascape Character Assessment Aberdeen to Holy Island Suffolk (Forth and Tay Offshore Windfarm Developer Group, 2011), as shown in Figure 7.9  Open ▸ to Figure 7.11  Open ▸ Figure 7.12  Open ▸ . The regional coastal character types identified within this coastal character assessment (Figure 7.9  Open ▸ ) will provide the baseline coastal characterisation and mapping for the SLVIA, against which the seascape effects of the Proposed Development will be assessed. At a regional scale, the SLVIA study area includes several regional coastal character types which are mapped in Figure 7.9  Open ▸ to Figure 7.11  Open ▸ .

England

666. At a national scale the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) identified Marine Character Areas (MCA’s) within the Seascape Character Assessment for the North East Inshore and Offshore Marine Plan Areas (MMO, 2018). There are four MCAs within the SLVIA study area, as shown in Figure 7.12  Open ▸ , including MCA 23: Rural Northumberland and Coastal Waters which extends along the Northumberland coastline.

 

Figure 7.9: Seascape Character: Map 1

 

Figure 7.10:  Seascape Character: Map 2

Figure 7.11:  Seascape Character: Map 3

Figure 7.12:  Seascape Character: Map 4

Landscape Baseline

Scotland

667. NatureScot’s landscape character map (NatureScot, 2019) and associated LCT descriptions will form the basis of the baseline landscape character description of the SLVIA study area and the assessment of the visual aspects of perceived character resulting from the Proposed Development. These LCTs are shown in Figure 7.13  Open ▸ with the key coastal landscapes in the SLVIA study area identified as follows by region:

• Aberdeenshire – 11. Fragmented Rocky Coast; and 13. Raised Beach Coast;
• Angus – 388. Beaches, Dunes and Links; and 389. Cliffs and Rocky Coast;
• Fife – 193. Coastal Terraces; 194. Coastal Cliffs; and 196. Coastal Flats;
• East Lothian – 277. Coastal Margins; and 278. Coastal Terrace; and
• Scottish Borders – 110. Coastal Farmland; 111. Coastal Pasture; and 112. Coastal Moorland.
  668. The Proposed Development is located beyond the boundaries of any areas subject to international, national or regional landscape designation in Scotland intended to protect landscape quality. Certain designated landscapes or defined areas found within the study area in Scotland have been designated or defined due to their scenic qualities or historic landscape qualities and are of relevance to the SLVIA as shown in Figure 7.14  Open ▸ .

England

669. The landscape of the onshore parts of the study area will be described and assessed in relation to the published Northumberland County Council Landscape Character Assessment (Northumberland County Council, 2010) that describes the associated coastal landscapes within the SLVIA study area at the regional scale. The key coastal landscape character areas in the Northumberland part of the SLVIA study area form the North Northumberland Coastal Plain:

• 1a. Tweed River Mouth;
• 3a. Haggerston;
• 4a. North Tweed Coast; and
• 5a. Holy Island Coast.
  670. The SLVIA study area includes part of the area covered by the Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) designation, within the north of the County between Berwick upon Tweed and Holy Island (Figure 7.14  Open ▸ ). The Northumberland Coast AONB covers an area of 138 km2 along 64 km of coastline from just south of Berwick-upon-Tweed to the Coquet Estuary. The AONB is only 2.5 km wide at its widest point, and yet it contains a variety of features of natural, historical and cultural value.
  671. The ‘natural beauty’ of the Northumberland Coast AONB is best expressed as the special qualities of the landscape, embracing all of these elements. These special qualities are set out in Part One of the AONB Management Plan 2020-2024 and in Appendix 14  Open .
  672. The North Northumberland Heritage Coast is largely contained within the AONB (Figure 7.14  Open ▸ ) between Cocklawburn Beach in the north to the edge of the SLVIA study area at Seahouses in the south. A further area of coastline to the north is also defined within the Heritage Coast outside the AONB, consisting of the Berwickshire coastline at Berwick-upon-Tweed.

 

 

 

 

Figure 7.13: Landscape Character

Figure 7.14: Landscape Designations

 

Visual Baseline

Introduction

673. The baseline visual resource experienced from the Scottish coastline within the SLVIA study area is diverse. From the remote high cliffs at St Abbs, there are wide elevated views directed along the coast and out to open sea, where there are dramatic coastlines due to the height of cliffs giving elevated and distant views. From the rocky coastlines of East Lothian and Fife the views over the North Sea are generally wide and open, but settlements and built features often appear at regular intervals providing foci along the coast, and shipping is a common feature seen out to sea. From the deposition coasts of Fife, which are low lying, views are long and expansive along sandy beaches and extend out to the North Sea. The outer Firth of Forth and Firth of Tay have land to land views across the Firths, while also retaining open views east out to sea. Views from the outer Firths often focus on distinctive islands (such as Bass Rock/Isle of May), and land on either side of the Firths is a focus, with settlements, and often masts and other infrastructure located on ridges, forming significant features in views.
674. The Berwick Bank seascape (MCA26) in which the Proposed Development is located covers an expansive offshore area of water located off the coast of Northumberland, where the visual baseline is described as being influenced by shipping activity (although less so than seascapes to the south), where the Northumberland coast ‘is visible from the westernmost parts of the MCA, with coastal landmarks providing orientation for seafarers’ and forming ‘part of the wider maritime setting to the Northumberland Coast AONB and North Northumberland Heritage Coast’ (MMO, 2018).

Zone of Theoretical Visibility (ZTV)

675. The visual baseline is largely defined by the ZTV shown in Figure 7.15  Open ▸ . The ZTV shows the main area in which the Proposed Development would theoretically be visible, highlighting the different groups of people who may experience views of the wind turbines located within the Proposed Development Array Area and assisting in the identification of viewpoints where they may be affected. The ZTVs are based on wind turbines of 355 m to blade tip (above LAT) and represents the MDS for the SLVIA considered in the scoping assessment.
676. The blade tip ZTV also illustrates the main coastal areas of the SLVIA Study Area with theoretical visibility of the Proposed Development. These areas of visibility have the potential to extend over relatively wide terrestrial areas extending from Aberdeenshire in the north to Northumberland in the south, along the coastlines of the outer Firth of Forth and Firth of Tay, with the main areas of coastal visibility described in Appendix 14  Open . The closest coastal areas with visibility of the Proposed Development will be from the Scottish Borders coastline from Cockburnspath extending along the elevated cliffs between Cove/Pease Bay to St Abbs Head and Eyemouth at distances of 33.3km at the closest point at St Abbs Head.

Visibility

677. Atmospheric conditions will affect visibility and therefore the ability of observers to see the Proposed Development from areas where theoretical visibility is indicated in the ZTV. A range of visibility conditions prevail in the SLVIA study area, at different locations, times of day/year and in different weather, ranging from the ‘Windswept coast with frequent ‘haar’, or coastal fog, caused by warmer moist air moving over the relatively cooler North Sea’ noted in MMO (2018) to the ‘northern quality of light often gives intense clarity in views’ described in NatureScot (2005).
678. Met office visibility data will be used to inform the assessment of the likelihood (or frequency) of effects in the SLVIA, based on data form the closest Met Office weather stations to the coastal parts of the SLVIA study area. Due to its distance at over 33.3km from the coast, the Proposed Development will only be visible in very good or excellent visibility and is unlikely to be visible in periods of very poor, poor, moderate or good visibility (less than 20km). 

Visual Receptors

679. The principal visual receptors in the SLVIA study area are likely to be found along the closest sections of the Aberdeenshire, Angus, Fife, East Lothian, Scottish Borders and Northumberland coastlines,  including:

• coastal settlements – including Montrose, Arbroath, St Andrews, St Abbs, settlements around the East Neuk of Fife, North Berwick, Dunbar, Cockburnspath, Coldingham, Eyemouth, Burnmouth and Berwick-Upon-Tweed;
• recreational routes - including walkers, equestrians and cyclists using the public rights of way network including long-distance trails such as the Fife Coastal Path, John Muir Way, Southern Uplands Way, Berwickshire Coastal Path and Northumberland Coast Path;
• main transport routes - such as the A92, A917, A1, A1107 and the East Coast Mainline Railway;
• visitors to tourist facilities - such as beaches, public open space, common land, coastal caravan and camping sites;
• visitors to historic environment assets - such as Dunnottar Castle, Tantallon Castle, Fast Castle, Lindisfarne Castle, Bamburgh Castle and Holy Island; and
• nearshore recreational receptors – including motor cruising areas extending to the east towards the Proposed Development Array Area, as well as day boat trips to offshore islands such as the Isle of May and Bass Rock, and other recreation activities, such as kayaking and surfing that can be found along the coast.

Viewpoints

680. Viewpoints have been compiled based on the ZTV for the Proposed Development, the principal seascape, landscape and visual receptors and are informed by other projects and feedback from stakeholders.
681. Representative and illustrative viewpoints proposed for the visual assessment are identified in Appendix 14  Open and mapped in Figure 7.15  Open ▸ .
682. Wireline visualisations showing the Proposed Development from each of the viewpoints are presented in Appendix 14  Open .
683. In preparing photomontages for the SLVIA, the photographs for all viewpoints will, where possible, be taken in good visibility conditions, seeking to represent a maximum visibility scenario when the offshore elements of the Proposed Development may be most visible.
684. Night time viewpoint photomontages showing a representation of the appearance of visible aviation and marine navigation lighting will also be produced from up to six viewpoints (one from the coastline of each local authority area in the SLVIA study area), with the locations to be agreed in consultation with stakeholders. The Applicant proposes further discussion on a likely lighting scenario in consultation with Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB), the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and Marine Scotland (MS).

 

Figure 7.15: Blade Tip ZTV (A3)

7.5.4.    Designed in Measures

685. The following designed in measures, and how these can reduce potential for impact have been considered in identification of impacts that have been scoped into the Proposed Development assessment (Table 7.10  Open ▸ ).
686. As part of the design process for the Proposed Development a number of designed in measures are proposed to reduce the potential for impacts on seascape, landscape and visual receptors. These are presented below. These will evolve over the development process as the EIA progresses and in response to consultation. The Applicant is committed to implement these measures, and also various standard sectoral practices and procedures. It is therefore considered that these measures are inherently part of the design of the Proposed Development and hence have been considered in the judgments as to which impacts can be scoped in/out presented in Table 7.10  Open ▸ and Table 7.11  Open ▸ .
687. Measures adopted as part of the project will include:

• the number of wind turbines installed will not exceed 307;
• wind turbines will have a maximum blade tip height of 355 m above LAT and the rotor diameter will not exceed 310 m;
• regard to design principles to be developed for the Proposed Development, with particular consideration of the seascape, landscape and visual impacts on nationally designated landscapes such as the Northumberland Coast AONB; and
• a lighting scheme will be agreed with the relevant authorities for the marine navigation lighting and aviation lighting of structures (turbines and offshore support platforms). Aviation warning lights will have reduced intensity at and below the horizontal and allow a further reduction in lighting intensity when the visibility in all directions from every wind turbine is more than 5km.
  688. The requirement and feasibility of any mitigation measures will be consulted upon with statutory consultees throughout the EIA process.

7.5.5.    Potential Impacts after the Implementation of designed in measures

689. The impacts that have been scoped into the Proposed Development assessment are outlined in Table 7.10  Open ▸ together with a description of any additional data collection (e.g. site-specific surveys) and/or supporting analyses (e.g. modelling) that will be required to enable a full assessment of the impacts.
690. Based on the baseline environment information currently available and the Proposed Development description (outlined in section 2  Open ▸ ) a number of impacts are proposed to be scoped out of the SLVIA. These impacts are outlined in Table 7.11  Open ▸ , together with a justification for scoping them out.
691. The scoping out of individual seascape, landscape and visual receptors has not been undertaken at this stage as part of the Scoping Report due to the large SLVIA study area and number of receptors. An initial ‘simple’ assessment of the potential effects of the Proposed Development on seascape, landscape and visual receptors will be undertaken as part of the first stage of the EIA process, initially using desk based information, wirelines and ZTV analysis, with the aim of scoping out certain receptors where significant effects are unlikely to occur, in consultation with stakeholders. A detailed assessment undertaken as part of the EIA will then subsequently focus on those seascape, landscape and visual receptors that are identified as requiring further assessment, particularly those receptors where the combination of their sensitivity and potential magnitude of change resulting from the Proposed Development may give rise to significant effects.

 

Table 7.10: Impacts Proposed to be Scoped into the Proposed Development Assessment for Seascape, Landscape and Visual Resources

 

Table 7.11: Impacts Proposed to be Scoped Out of the Proposed Development Assessment for Seascape, Landscape and Visual Resources

 

7.5.6.    Proposed Approach to the Environmental Impact Assessment

692. The project wide approach to the SLVIA methodology is set out in section 4  Open ▸ . Whilst this has informed the approach that will be used in the SLVIA, it is necessary to set out how this methodology will be applied, and adapted as appropriate, to address the specific needs of the SLVIA.
693. The SLVIA is an objective evaluation that is informed by experienced professional judgement based on the application of a methodology. The methodology proposed for the SLVIA is as set out in the example methodology provided in Appendix 14  Open . The key guidance and an overview of the SLVIA approach are summarised as follows. 

Technical Guidance

694. The assessment will be undertaken in accordance with the methods outlined in the following best practice guidance documents:

• Landscape Institute with the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (2013). Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment. Third Edition;
• Landscape Institute (2019). Visual Representation of Development Proposals TGN 06/19;
• Landscape Institute (2021). Landscape Value and Valued Landscapes. A Technical Guidance Note;
• Natural England (2012). An Approach to Seascape Character Assessment;
• Natural England (2014). An Approach to Landscape Character Assessment;
• NatureScot (2012). Assessing the Cumulative Impact of Onshore Wind Energy Developments;
• NatureScot (2017). Visual Representation of Windfarms: Version 2.2;
• NatureScot (2017). Siting and Designing Windfarms in the Landscape; and
• Planning Inspectorate (2018) Advice Note Nine: Rochdale Envelope.

Overview of Approach

695. The objective of the assessment of the Proposed Development will be to predict the significant effects on the seascape, landscape and visual resource. In accordance with the EIA Regulations 2017, the SLVIA effects will be assessed to be either significant or not significant. The methodology to undertake the SLVIA will reflect the ‘Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment: Third Edition’ (Landscape Institute, 2013).
696. The SLVIA will assess the effects of changes resulting from Proposed Development on seascape/landscape as a resource, the views available to people and their visual amenity. The SLVIA will be undertaken using the following steps.

• The features of the Proposed Development that may result in seascape, landscape and visual effects will be described. The overall scope of the assessment will be defined, including the study area and range of possible seascape, landscape and visual effects.
• The seascape/landscape baseline will be established using seascape /landscape character assessment and the ZTV of Proposed Development, to identify seascape and landscape receptors that may be affected and their key characteristics and value.
• The visual baseline will be established by identifying the ZTV, identifying the people who may be affected and identifying visual receptors and selecting viewpoints.
• A preliminary or ‘simple’ assessment will be undertaken of seascape, landscape and visual receptors using desk based information, wirelines and ZTV analysis, to identify which seascape, landscape and visual receptors are unlikely to be significantly affected and can be scoped out of the assessment (in consultation with relevant stakeholders) and those that are more likely to be significantly affected by the Proposed Development, which require to be assessed in full.
• Interactions are identified between the Proposed Development and seascape, landscape and visual receptors, to predict likely significant effects arising and measures that are proposed to mitigate effects.
• An assessment of the susceptibility of seascape, landscape and visual receptors to specific change and the value attached to landscape receptors and views will be undertaken, combining these judgements to assess the sensitivity of the landscape and visual receptors to Proposed Development.
• An assessment of the size/scale of seascape/landscape impact, the degree to which seascape/landscape elements are altered and the extent to which the impacts change the key characteristics of the landscape will be undertaken, combining these judgements to assess the magnitude of change on each seascape/landscape receptor.
• An assessment of the size/scale of visual impact, the extent to which the change would affect views, whether this is unique or representative of a wider area, and the position of the Proposed Development in relation to the principal orientation of the view and activity of the receptor will be undertaken. These judgements are combined to assess the magnitude of change on the visual receptor.
• The assessments of sensitivity to change and magnitude of change will be combined to assess the significance of seascape, landscape and visual effects.
  697. The significance of effects will be assessed through a combination of two considerations – the sensitivity of the landscape or visual receptor / view and the magnitude of change that will result from the Proposed Development. In accordance with GLVIA3 (Landscape Institute, 2013), the SLVIA methodology requires the application of professional judgement, but generally, the higher the sensitivity and the higher the magnitude of change the more likely that a significant effect will arise.

7.5.7.    Potential Cumulative Effects

698. The objective of the cumulative SLVIA is to describe, visually represent and assess the ways in which the Proposed Development will have additional effects when considered together with other existing, consented or application stage developments and to identify related significant cumulative effects arising. The guiding principle in preparing the cumulative SLVIA will be to focus on the likely significant effects and in particular those which are likely to influence the outcome of the consenting process.
699. It is likely that there will be cumulative effects which require assessing due to the spatial scope of the Proposed Development and associated assessment. Cumulative effects on seascape, landscape and visual receptors resulting from the effects of the Proposed Development and other developments will be assessed in accordance with relevant cumulative LVIA guidance and methodologies set out in section 4.3.7 and considering the other developments that have been screened in as part of the Cumulative Effects Assessment (CEA) screening exercise. 
700. Cumulative effects may arise where two or more developments are experienced at a proximity where they may have a greater incremental effect, or where they may combine to have a sequential effect.
701. The impacts from the offshore elements of the Proposed Development have the potential to act cumulatively with impacts from other developments to contribute to cumulative effects. Such impacts from the offshore elements of the Proposed Development that have the potential to contribute to cumulative seascape, landscape and visual effects include during operation, effects on seascape, landscape and visual amenity due to inter-visibility of other planned projects with the Proposed Development. Cumulative effects during construction and decommissioning are considered less likely to be significant, due to the temporary nature of the activity.
702. A comprehensive list of national and international plans, projects and regulated activities that have the potential to contribute to cumulative impacts of the Proposed Development will be compiled as part of the EIA Report. The SLVIA will then undertake a process of scoping out plans, projects and activities from this list, based on expert judgement, assessment rationale and guidance relevant to seascape, landscape and visual impacts. Projects that are currently proposed to be included in the cumulative assessment for seascape, landscape and visual effects are as follows.

Offshore wind

703. The focus of the cumulative SLVIA will be on the additional effect of the Proposed Development in conjunction with other developments of the same type i.e. other OWFs that are being developed in the outer Firth of Forth and Firth of Tay. The SLVIA Study Area includes the following OWFs that will be scoped into the cumulative assessment (Figure 7.8  Open ▸ ):

• operational/under-construction OWFs – Neart na Gaoithe OWF and Kincardine OWF, which will be considered as part of the baseline environment; and
• consented OWFs – Inch Cape OWF and Seagreen OWF, which are both consented and will be considered as part of a consented OWF scenario in the SLVIA.
  704. The location of these cumulative OWFs is shown in Figure 7.8  Open ▸ and they are illustrated in the wireline visualisations in Appendix 14  Open .
  705. There are no other application stage OWFs or OWF proposals subject to scoping requests or with an Area for Lease (AfL) from Crown Estates Scotland (CES) within the SLVIA study area however, the potential for cumulative effects with pre-application stage projects i.e., those in scoping and those with an AfL, will be considered during the SLVIA.

Onshore wind

706. The cumulative SLVIA will also consider the additional effect of the Proposed Development in conjunction with other onshore wind farm developments within the SLVIA study area. An initial cumulative wind farm search has been undertaken and the locations of known onshore wind farm projects are shown in Figure 7.8  Open ▸ . The main clusters of onshore wind farm development occur in the Lammermuir Hills in East Lothian (Crystal Rig and Aikengall); Coldingham Moor in the Scottish Borders (Drone Hill, Penmanshiel and Quixwood Moor); and the Garvock and Glenbervie areas of Aberdeenshire (Tullo, Clochna Hill, Hillhead of Auquihirie and St Johns). There are a number of consented onshore wind farm projects which will be considered as part of a consented scenario in the SLVIA, including Crystal Rig Phase IV, Kenly Farm (Fife) and numerous single turbines in the coastal farmlands of Aberdeenshire. A comprehensive list of onshore wind farm projects that have the potential to contribute to cumulative impacts of the Proposed Development will be compiled as part of the EIA Report and in consultation with relevant stakeholders.
707. In accordance with guidance (NatureScot, 2012), the SLVIA will assess the effect arising from the addition of the Proposed Development to the cumulative situation, and not the overall effect of multiple wind farms.

7.5.8.    Potential Transboundary Impacts

708. A screening of transboundary impacts has been carried out and is presented in Appendix 3  Open . This screening exercise identified that there is the no potential for transboundary impacts upon seascape, landscape and visual receptors due to construction, operational and maintenance, and decommissioning impacts of the Proposed Development. The SLVIA study area is located entirely outside the terrestrial areas and maritime boundaries of European Union (EU) member states. Due to the concentrated nature of any potential impacts on the seascape, landscape and visual resource to the UK coastline within the SLVIA study area, transboundary impacts are unlikely to occur on seascape, landscape or visual receptors and therefore transboundary impacts will be scoped out from further consideration within the SLVIA.

7.5.9.    Scoping Questions to Consultees

• Do you agree that the data sources identified in Appendix 14  Open are sufficient to inform the baseline for the Proposed Development EIA Report?
• Do you agree that all the designated areas within the ZTV have been identified?
• Do you agree with the proposed viewpoint list in Appendix 14  Open Table 7.11  Open ▸ or do you have any proposed additions or alternatives?
• Have all potential impacts resulting from the Proposed Development been identified for seascape, landscape and visual receptors?
• Do you agree that the impacts described in Table 7.11  Open ▸ can be scoped out?
• For those impacts scoped in (Table 7.10  Open ▸ ), do you agree that the methods described are sufficient to inform a robust impact assessment?
• Do you have any specific requirements for the SLVIA methodology and/or visual representations (photomontages/ZTVs) to be included in the SLVIA?
• Do you agree that the designed in measures described provide a suitable means for managing and mitigating the potential effects of the Proposed Development on seascape, landscape and visual receptors?

7.5.10.                        Next Steps

SLVIA Contents

709. The SLVIA section of the EIA Report will provide a summary of the significance of changes resulting from the construction and operation of the offshore elements of the Proposed Development to seascape, landscape and visual receptors. Full technical assessments of the seascape, landscape and visual impacts will be contained within technical appendices. The SLVIA will be supported by plan figures and visual representations (photomontages).

Desk Based and Site Survey Work

710. The SLVIA undertaken as part of the EIA Report will be informed by desk based studies and field survey work undertaken within the SLVIA study area. The landscape, seascape and visual baseline will be informed by desk based review of landscape and seascape character assessments, and the ZTV, to identify receptors that may be affected by the offshore elements of the Proposed Development and produce written descriptions of their key characteristics and value.
711. A preliminary desk based assessment will be undertaken of seascape, landscape and visual receptors using ZTV analysis, to identify which landscape and visual receptors are unlikely to be significantly affected, which will be subject to a preliminary assessment, and those that are more likely to be significantly affected by the offshore elements of the Proposed Development, which require a detailed assessment.
712. Interactions will be identified between the offshore elements of the Proposed Development and seascape, landscape and visual receptors, to predict potentially significant effects arising and measures may be proposed to mitigate effects.
713. For those receptors where a detailed assessment is required, primary data acquisition will be undertaken through a series of surveys. These surveys will include field survey verification of the ZTV from terrestrial LCAs/LCTs, micro-siting of viewpoint locations, panoramic baseline photography and visual assessment survey from all representative viewpoints (as listed in Table 7.11  Open ▸ ). These viewpoint photography and visual assessment surveys are planned to be undertaken during autumn/winter 2021-2022.
714. There is some risk of delay in being able to take viewpoint photographs due to the ongoing Covid-19 public health situation, however it is anticipated that site visits to the study area will be possible to undertake in autumn/winter 2021-2022. Further visual assessment surveys are then likely to be undertaken prior to the EIA Report submission, using the photomontage visualisations to undertake field survey assessment of visual effects from each representative viewpoint. Sea-based offshore surveys are not proposed to be undertaken as part of the SLVIA, given that the key impacts are land-based. Illustrative wirelines (without baseline photography) will be prepared for offshore viewpoints if required. 
715. Detailed assessment methods will be based on quantifying impacts through modelling to enable prediction of seascape, landscape and visual effects. Assessment of the sensitivity of seascape, landscape and visual receptors will be undertaken, together with an assessment of the magnitude of change arising as a result of the offshore elements of the Proposed Development. Judgements on sensitivity and magnitude will be combined to arrive at an overall assessment as to whether the offshore elements of the Proposed Development will have an effect that is significant or not significant on each seascape, landscape and visual receptor. 
716. The SLVIA undertaken as part of the EIA Report will prepare the necessary information to assess the night time visual effects of the proposed lighting of the offshore elements of the Proposed Development.  

Study Area Refinements for EIA Report

717. The 60km radius SLVIA study area may be further refined for the EIA Report if the Proposed Development Array Area changes from that currently shown in Figure 7.8  Open ▸ . The ZTV (Figure 7.15  Open ▸ ) of the Proposed Development may also be further refined to address any ongoing design changes, or changes in the design envelope, for example in response to embedded environmental measures that may influence the MDS for the SLVIA.

Stakeholder Engagement

718. Consultation will be a key feature of the SLVIA process for the Proposed Development, with relevant statutory and non-statutory organisations, the public and interested parties. The proposed approach to stakeholder engagement during the pre-application phase is outlined in section 4.3.4.
719. Further pre-application consultations with regards to SLVIA are proposed to be undertaken primarily through specialist consultations with relevant stakeholders including consultation meetings with representatives from NE, Northumberland County Council, Northumberland Coast AONB Partnership, NatureScot, Aberdeenshire Council, Angus Council, Fife Council, East Lothian Council and Scottish Borders Council. Feedback received through this consultation process will be considered and addressed in the EIA Report.

 

7.6.        Cultural Heritage

7.6.1.    Introduction

720. This section of the Offshore EIA Scoping Report identifies onshore cultural heritage assets of relevance to the Proposed Development and potential impacts of the offshore and intertidal components (seaward of the MHWS mark) of the Proposed Development on cultural heritage assets of national importance. As discussed below, there is no potential for significant effects to arise in relation to the offshore export cables and this section therefore focuses on the Proposed Development Array Area only.
721. The potential impacts of the Proposed Development upon onshore cultural heritage assets relate entirely to visual change in their setting. As such, there is substantial overlap between the Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment (CHIA) and the Seascape, Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (SLVIA) as the proposed cultural heritage viewpoints are also SLVIA viewpoints. The assessment methodology to be employed, is however, specific to the CHIA. The SLVIA includes a number of viewpoints that are near cultural heritage assets, which will not be considered in the CHIA as, given the different assessment criteria being applied there is no potential for a significant effect in respect of cultural heritage.

7.6.2.    Study Area

722. The Proposed Development Array Area is located offshore in the outer Firth of Forth and Firth of Tay region of the North Sea, approximately 43 km east of the East Lothian, 33.4 km from the Scottish Borders coastline (St. Abb’s Head), 34.1 km from the Angus coastline at Red Head and 36.6 km from the Fife coast at Fife Ness.
723. The cultural heritage assessment study area for the Proposed Development extends 60 km from the Proposed Development Array Area (Figure 7.16  Open ▸ ). There is no discipline specific guidance on appropriate cultural heritage study areas. Consequently, the cultural heritage study area is based on that developed for the SLVIA, which has been defined through consideration of the blade tip Zone of Theoretical Visibility (ZTV). This shows that beyond 60 km the extent of visibility will be very restricted. As explained in section 7.5  Open ▸ .

724. At distances over 60 km, the lateral (or horizontal) spread of the Proposed Development will also occupy a small portion of available views and the apparent height (or ‘vertical angle’) of the wind turbines would also appear very small, therefore significant visual effects are unlikely to arise at greater than this distance, even if the wind turbines are theoretically visible.
725. The influence of earth curvature begins to limit the apparent height and visual influence of the wind turbines visible at long distances (such as over 60 km), as the lower parts of the turbines would be partially hidden behind the apparent horizon, leaving only the upper parts visible above the skyline. The variation of weather conditions influencing visibility off the coast has also informed the SLVIA study area. Based on understanding of Met Office data, visibility beyond 60 km is likely to be very infrequent.
726. Given the above, it is evident that there is negligible potential for the Proposed Development to alter the setting of cultural heritage assets that are more than 60 km from the Proposed Development Array Area in such a way that their cultural significance might be adversely affected. As such, there is negligible potential for significant effects to occur outside the cultural heritage study area. Guidance directs that the EIA process should focus on significant environmental effects (Scottish Government, 2013) and consequently, 60 km represents an appropriate outer limit to the cultural heritage study area. The cultural heritage study area takes in all the assets raised by consultees in the Scoping Opinion (Marine Scotland, 2021).It is proposed that heritage assets outside the cultural heritage study area are scoped out of the assessment

.

Figure 7.16: Cultural Heritage Study Area

727. Guidance on cultural heritage impact assessment in the context of EIA (Historic Environment Scotland (HES) and SNH, 2018) stresses that study areas should be applied with discretion, as their rigid application may lead to an unwieldy assessment that does not focus on the significant effects. Consequently, it is not proposed that the CHIA should consider all heritage assets within the cultural heritage study area; only those assets where it is considered there will be significant effect will be considered.

7.6.3.    Baseline Environment

728. This section of the Offshore EIA Scoping Report provides a brief summary of the baseline environment as relevant to the current CHIA.

Data Sources

729. This baseline section is based upon designations data from HES and Historic England (HE). It is informed by local knowledge and work undertaken in respect of previous offshore wind farms in the Firth of Forth, namely Neart na Gaoithe, Seagreen and Inch Cape. Site visits have yet to be undertaken.

Nationally Important Heritage Assets

730. The closest designated cultural heritage asset to the Proposed Development Array Area is the Bell Rock lighthouse (LB45197). This is a Category A Listed Building and is approximately 24.5 km to the northeast of the Proposed Development Proposed Development Array Area. Nationally important designated heritage assets are summarised in Table 7.12  Open ▸ and their locations are shown in Figure 7.17  Open ▸ .

 

Table 7.12: Summary of Nationally Important Designated Heritage Assets by Distance within the Cultural Heritage Study Area

 

731. The cultural heritage study area takes in the fertile coastal plains of south-east Scotland and Northumberland, areas that have seen relatively intensive human activity through all periods of history. This results in a landscape with substantial and appreciable ‘time depth’ and the above designated heritage assets include Prehistoric settlements, burial cairns and hillforts, Medieval castles, forts and religious sites, Post-Medieval and Modern fortifications, industrial sites, designed landscapes, infrastructure and houses. In addition to these visible assets there is a large number of archaeological sites that have been effaced and survive only as subsurface remains.
732. Views to the sea are often available from many of the above designated heritage assets and in many instances, there are visual relationships between these assets and the sea that contribute positively to their cultural significance. These relationships may be functional, designed, fortuitous, or a combination of these.
733. Owing to the history of intensive activity, the setting of assets on the coastal plain and in the Lammermuirs, at the fringe of the cultural heritage study area, inevitably contains Modern features, including Torness nuclear power station, Dunbar cement works, wind farms, pylons, forestry, agricultural sheds, modern housing and infrastructure, seen at close range or in the middle distance. Consequently, whilst numerous assets in the cultural heritage study area have strong visual relationships with the sea, very few are sensitive to distant change. These are considered in the following section (see paragraph 734).

 

Figure 7.17: Cultural Heritage Receptors

Cultural Heritage Receptors

734. Cultural heritage assets have been identified as receptors where there is a known visual relationship with the sea that contributes to their cultural significance and which may be considered sensitive to distant change or where they have been raised by consultees in the initial Berwick Bank Wind Farm proposal Scoping Opinion (Marine Scotland, 2020). These are listed in Table 7.13  Open ▸ .

 

Table 7.13: Nationally Important Designated Heritage Assets Considered as Potential Receptors

 

7.6.4.    Potential Proposed Development Impacts

735. A range of potential impacts on cultural heritage have been identified which may occur during the construction, operation and maintenance, and decommissioning phases of the Proposed Development in the absence of designed in measures:

• construction

–           impacts upon the setting of onshore cultural heritage assets.

• operation and maintenance

–           impacts (daytime) of the operation and maintenance of the offshore elements of the Proposed Development upon the setting of cultural heritage assets;

–           impacts (night-time) of the operation and maintenance of the Proposed Development upon the setting of cultural heritage assets;

–           cumulative effect (daytime) of the operation of the Proposed Development upon the setting of cultural heritage assets;

–           cumulative effect (night-time) of the operation of the Proposed Development upon the setting of cultural heritage assets;

–           impacts upon the setting of cultural heritage assets of less than national importance (Category B and C and Grade II Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas); and

–           impacts upon the setting of cultural heritage assets outside the cultural heritage study area.

• decommissioning

–           impacts upon the setting of onshore cultural heritage assets.

7.6.5.    Designed in Measures

736. As part of the design process for the Proposed Development, a number of designed in measures are proposed to reduce the potential for impacts on cultural heritage assets. These are presented in paragraph 122. These will evolve over the development process as the EIA progresses and in response to consultation. SSER is committed to implement these measures, and also various standard sectoral practices and procedures. It is therefore considered that these measures are inherently part of the design of the Proposed Development and hence have been considered in the judgements as to which impacts can be scoped in/out presented in Table 7.14  Open ▸ and Table 7.15  Open ▸ .
737. Designed in measures adopted as part of the Proposed Development will include:

• the number of wind turbines installed will not exceed 307 wind turbines;
• wind turbines will have a maximum blade tip height of 355 m above LAT and the rotor diameter will not exceed 310 m;
• regard to design principles to be developed for the Proposed Development, to safeguard sensitive visual relationships, such as that between Bell Rock Lighthouse and its signal tower; and
• a lighting scheme will be agreed with the relevant authorities for the marine navigation lighting and aviation lighting of structures (turbines and offshore support platforms). Aviation warning lights will have reduced intensity at and below the horizontal and allow a further reduction in lighting intensity when the visibility in all directions from every wind turbine is more than 5 km.
  738. The requirement and feasibility of any mitigation measures will be consulted upon with statutory consultees throughout the EIA process.

7.6.6.    Potential Impacts after the Implentation of Degined in Measures

739. The impacts that have been scoped into the Proposed Development assessment are outlined in Table 7.14  Open ▸ together with a description of any additional data collection (e.g. site specific surveys) and/or supporting analyses (e.g. modelling) that will be required to enable a full assessment of the impacts.

740. Impacts proposed to be scoped out are listed in Table 7.15  Open ▸ .

.

Table 7.14: Impacts Proposed to be Scoped In to the Proposed Development Assessment for Cultural Heritage

Table 7.15: Impacts Proposed to be Scoped Out of the Proposed Development Assessment for Cultural Heritage Assets

 

7.6.7.    Proposed Approach to the Environmental Impact Assessment

741. The cultural heritage EIA will follow the methodology set out in section 4  Open ▸ . Specific to the cultural heritage EIA, the following guidance documents will also be considered:

• Standard and Guidance for Historic Environment Desk-Based Assessment (Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (2017);
• Historic Environment Guidance for the Offshore Renewable Energy Sector (COWRIE, 2007);
• Guidance for Assessment of Cumulative Impacts on the Historic Environment from Offshore Renewable Energy (COWRIE, 2008);
• Historic Environment Circular 1 (HES, 2016);
• EIA Handbook (HES and NatureScot (2018);
• Historic Environment Policy for Scotland (HES, 2019); and
• Managing Change in the Historic Environment: Setting (HES, 2020).
  742. The CHIA will be undertaken in accordance with the approach outlined in the EIA Handbook (HES and NatureScot, 2018) and Managing Change in the Historic Environment: Setting (HES, 2019). This approach considers magnitude in terms of change in the cultural significance of the affected heritage asset and sensitivity in terms of importance. It involves the following stages:
• stage 1: identify the historic assets that might be affected by the Proposed Development;
• stage 2: define and analyse the setting by establishing how the surroundings contribute to the ways in which the historic asset or place is understood, appreciated and experienced; and
• stage 3: evaluate the potential impact of the proposed changes on the setting, and the extent to which any negative impacts can be mitigated.
  743. This scoping exercise, which is a qualitative assessment, represents stage 1.

7.6.8.    Potential Cumulative Effects

744. Cumulative effects may arise as a result of the Proposed Development being seen in combination with other offshore wind farms in the outer Firth of Forth and Firth of Tay region. Where the Proposed Development results in an adverse impact, this may result in greater impact magnitude and hence a greater cumulative effect. Cumulative effects will therefore be considered where adverse effects have been identified in respect of the Proposed Development alone and significant cumulative effects identified.

7.6.9.    Scoping Questions to Consultees

• Do you agree that the proposed cultural heritage study area is appropriate?
• Do you agree with the proposed list of potential receptors (Table 7.13  Open ▸ ) or are there other assets where you consider there might be significant effects?
• Do you agree that the impacts listed in Table 7.15  Open ▸ can be scoped out?
• Do you agree with the proposed approach to baseline data gathering and impact assessment?

7.6.10.                        Next Steps

The CHIA will be informed by desk-based studies and site visits to fully characterise the cultural significance of the identified receptors and the contribution of cultural significance. This will identify key views and aspects of setting that should be taken into account in the design of the Proposed Development. This work will be undertaken during the autumn/winter of 2021.

7.7.        Infrastructure and Other Users

7.7.1.    Introduction

745. This section of the Offshore EIA Scoping Report identifies the elements of the infrastructure and other users of relevance to the Proposed Development and considers the potential impacts from the construction, operation and maintenance, and decommissioning of the offshore and intertidal components (seaward of the MHWS) of the Proposed Development on the infrastructure and other users receptors.
746. Infrastructure and other users were reported on in the initial Scoping Report. Although the change in project scope applied to this Scoping Report, which is combining the offshore Proposed Development Array Areas, the impacts are anticipated to generally be the same as identified in the initial Scoping Report. The initial Berwick Bank Wind Farm Proposal Scoping Opinion response has been considered for the development of this section.

7.7.2.    Study Area

747. The infrastructure and other users study area is shown in Figure 7.18  Open ▸ and includes the Proposed Development Array Area and proposed ECC.
748. The infrastructure and other users study area varies in scale depending on the receptor and has been divided into different areas according to each receptor, as listed below:

• infrastructure and other users study area: inner (purple) area (within 1 km of the Proposed Development Array Area and proposed ECC. This area includes the extent of potential direct physical overlap between the Proposed Development activities and the following receptors:

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

–           offshore energy projects (e.g. offshore wind farms, tide and wave projects);

–           cable and pipeline operators;

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

–           oil and gas; and

–           coal deposits.

• infrastructure and other users study area: potential increased turbidity area. This area is based on one tidal ellipse of the Proposed Development (see section 2  Open ▸ for further information) and relates to the potential for increases in suspended sediments to occur relating to the Proposed Development. As details relating to the tidal ellipse are not yet available, this study is not specifically defined at this stage. This study area is related to only those receptors which are susceptible to increases in Suspended Sediment Concentrations (SSCs), specifically:

–           aggregate extraction and disposal sites; and

–           recreational receptors (diving sites).

• the cumulative effect assessment will consider all other projects/plans within the broad infrastructure and other users study area (yellow area).

7.7.3.    Baseline Environment

749. This section provides a concise summary of the baseline environment of the Proposed Development. Reference should be made to Appendix 15  Open where a more detailed description is provided. The following receptors have been considered as part of the baseline environment for infrastructure and other users.
750. No site-specific surveys have been undertaken to inform the Offshore EIA Scoping Report, and due to availability of suitable data throughout the Forth and Tay, new data or modelling studies will not be required to characterise the infrastructure and other users baseline for the Offshore EIAR.

 

Figure 7.18: Infrastructure and Other Users Study Area

Recreational Activity

751. The National Marine Plan Interactive (NMPi) presents several data layers for recreational activities which provide an overview of recreational activities around the Scottish Coast. Apx. Figure 15. 2  Open ▸ provides a heat map of 23 different recreation and tourism activities undertaken at sea or around the coastline (Marine Scotland, 2015). There are varying levels of recreational activity including recreational boating, motor cruising areas, recreational sea angling, shore angling, canoeing, kayaking, windsurfing, kite surfing and scuba diving along the coast (Appendix 15  Open ).
752. Scuba diving occurs within the infrastructure and other users study area along the proposed ECC. It is noted that all recreational activities are highly seasonal and dependant on certain weather conditions.

Offshore Wind, Wave and Tidal Projects

753. An overview of the key infrastructure within the vicinity of the Proposed Development is illustrated within Figure 7.19  Open ▸ . Offshore energy projects within the infrastructure and other users study area (inner) include Neart Na Gaoithe (NnG)). The NnG ECC also intersects the proposed export cable for the Proposed Development.
754. There are currently no wave and tidal energy projects, active licence blocks, oil and gas pipelines, no carbon capture, natural gas storage, underground gasification or coal deposits, no active or closed disposal sites and no subsea telecommunication cables located within the infrastructure and other users study area (inner). There are also no currently active licences for marine aggregate extraction in the Forth and Tay marine region.
755. Therefore wave and tidal projects, oil and gas activities within licenced blocks, carbon capture, natural gas storage, underground gasification and coal deposits, subsea telecommunication cables, marine disposal sites and marine aggregate extraction sites have not been considered further within this Offshore EIA Scoping Report.

7.7.4.    Potential Proposed Development Impacts

756. A range of potential impacts on infrastructure and other users have been identified which may occur during the construction, operation and maintenance, and decommissioning phases of the Proposed Development in the absence of designed in measures:

• Construction

–           Displacement of recreational sailing and motor cruising, recreational fishing (boat angling) and other recreational activities (diving vessels) due to safety zones and advisory safety distances in the Proposed Development Array Area and proposed ECC may result in a loss of recreational resource;

–           Displacement of recreational fishing (shore angling) and other recreational activities (kayaking, kite surfing, surfing and windsurfing, scuba diving and beach users) due to advisory safety distances in the nearshore and intertidal section of the proposed ECC resulting in a loss of recreational resource; and

–           Installation of the export cable, including associated safety distances, may temporarily affect or restrict access to the Neart na Gaoithe offshore export cable.

• Operation and Maintenance

–           Displacement of recreational sailing and motor cruising, recreational fishing (boat angling) and other recreational activities (diving vessels) in the Proposed Development Array Area and proposed ECC may result in a loss of recreational resource;

–           Maintenance activities, including associated safety distances, for the export cable may temporarily affect or restrict access to the Neart na Gaoithe offshore export cable.

Figure 7.19: Key Infrastructure and Other Users in the Vicinity of the Proposed Development Marine Disposal and Aggregate Extraction Sites

• Decommissioning

–           Displacement of recreational sailing and motor cruising, recreational fishing (boat angling) and other recreational activities (diving vessels) in the Proposed Development Array Area and proposed ECC may result in a loss of recreational resource;

–           Displacement of recreational fishing (shore angling) and other recreational activities (kayaking, kite surfing, surfing and windsurfing, scuba diving and beach users) along the nearshore and intertidal section of the proposed ECC resulting in a loss of recreational resource; and

–           Decommissioning activities, including associated safety distances, for the export cable may temporarily affect or restrict access to the Neart na Gaoithe offshore export cable.

7.7.5.    Designed in Measures

757. The following designed in measures, and how these can reduce the potential for impact have been considered in the identification of impacts that have been scoped into/out of the Proposed Development assessment (Table 7.16  Open ▸ ).

• promulgation of information: timely and efficient distribution of NtM, Kingfisher notifications and other navigational warnings of the position and nature of works associated with the Proposed Development;
• application and use of Safety Zones during construction, maintenance and decommissioning activities associated with wind turbines and offshore platforms;
• use of advisory safety distances around vessels undertaking construction, major maintenance, and decommissioning activities; and
• crossing or laying of cables over or adjacent to known or future cables will be subject to crossing and/or proximity agreements.
  758. The requirement and feasibility of additional measures will be dependent on the significance of the effects on infrastructure and other users and will be consulted upon with statutory consultees throughout the EIA process.

7.7.6.    Potential Impacts After the Implementation of designed in measures

759. The potential impacts that have been scoped into the Proposed Development assessment are outlined in Table 7.16  Open ▸ together with a description of any additional data collection (e.g. site-specific surveys) and/or supporting analyses (e.g. modelling) that will be required to enable a full assessment of the impacts.
760. At this stage, the potential impacts to infrastructure and other users that are proposed to be scoped out of the assessment are described in Table 7.17  Open ▸ .

 

Table 7.16: Impacts Proposed to be Scoped into the Proposed Development Assessment for Infrastructure and Other Users. Project phase refers to construction (C), operation and maintenance (O) and decommissioning (D) phase of the Proposed Development

 

Table 7.17: Impacts Proposed to be Scoped Out of the Proposed Development Assessment for Infrastructure and Other Users

7.7.7.    Proposed Approach to the Environmental Impact Assessment

761. The infrastructure and other users EIA will follow the methodology set out in section 4  Open ▸ . Specific to the infrastructure and other users EIA, the following guidance documents will also be considered:

• the RYA's Position on Offshore Renewable Energy Developments: Paper 1 (of 4) – Wind Energy, June 2019 (RYA, 2019);
• 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;

–           Recommendation No.3. Telecommunications Cable and oil Pipeline / Power Cables Crossing Criteria; and

–           Recommendation No.13. The Proximity of Offshore Renewable Wind Energy Installations and Submarine Cable Infrastructure in National Waters.

• TCE and CES Agreements and Oil and Gas Licences (OGA, 2018);
• 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, 2012a); and
• TCE Guidance: Submarine cables and offshore renewable energy installation – Proximity study (TCE, 2012b).

Potential Cumulative Effects

762. There is the potential for cumulative effects to occur as the result of the Proposed Development with other plans or projects. The CEA will follow the methodology set out in section 4  Open ▸ .

Potential Transboundary Impacts

763. A screening of transboundary impacts has been carried out and is presented in Appendix 3  Open . No potential transboundary effects have been identified for infrastructure and other users and therefore this will not be considered within the EIAR.

7.7.8.    Scoping Questions to Consultees

• Do you agree that the existing data available to describe the infrastructure and other users baseline remains sufficient?
• Do you agree that the designed in measures described provides a suitable means for managing and mitigating the potential effects of the Proposed Development on the infrastructure and other users receptors?
• Do you agree with the potential impacts to be scoped out of the Proposed Development assessment?
• Do you agree with the potential impacts to be scoped in for the Proposed Development assessment?
• Do you agree with the proposal to scope transboundary impacts out of the EIA?

7.7.9.    Next Steps

764. Consultation will commence with the relevant infrastructure stakeholders and other users to ensure that the key impacts and receptors are clearly identified prior to submission of the Offshore EIAR. This will also allow mitigations discussions to take place early to ensure that suitable mitigations solutions can be delivered in good time for the construction phase of the Proposed Development. In particular consultation with RYA Scotland will be undertaken to agree any additional modes of communication with recreational sailors, and early engagement will be undertaken with Neart na Gaoithe.

 

7.8.        Offshore Socio-Economics and Tourism

7.8.1.    Introduction

765. This section of the Offshore EIA Scoping Report identifies the elements of the offshore socio-economics and tourism of relevance to the Proposed Development and considers the potential impacts from the construction, operation and maintenance, and decommissioning of the offshore and intertidal components (seaward of the MHWS mark) of the Proposed Development on the offshore socio-economics and tourism receptors.
766. In the case of socio-economic impact assessment, there is a complexity with the impacts associated with offshore and intertidal activities primarily manifesting onshore. As above, the current approach is focused on the 'source' of the impact, rather than the ultimate location. This is consistent with the broader approach to separating on and offshore effects.
767. The potential impacts from the construction, operation and maintenance, and decommissioning of the onshore components (namely onshore substation and associated infrastructure) of the Proposed Development on socio-economics and tourism receptors are considered as part of the Onshore EIA Scoping Report.
768. Offshore socio-economics and tourism were reported on in the initial Scoping Report. Although the change in project scope applied to this Scoping Report, which is combining the offshore Proposed Development Array Areas, the impacts are anticipated to generally be the same as identified in the initial Scoping Report. The initial Berwick Bank Wind Farm Proposal Scoping Opinion response has been considered for the development of this section.

7.8.2.    Study Area

769. The selection of the study areas for the socio-economic 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 study area. The study area will be linked to the selection of construction (and therefore decommissioning), and operation and maintenance ports, and the supply of a range of inputs and services for the Proposed Development.
770. The ‘local’ socio-economics study area will cover the Proposed Development and coastline authorities (East Lothian, Fife, Dundee City, and Angus local authorities) as illustrated in Figure 7.20  Open ▸ . It will be linked to the selection of construction, and operation and maintenance ports and the supply of a range of inputs and services for the Proposed Development.
771. A larger regional socio-economics study area is defined to reflect the wider reach of Scottish Gross Value Added (GVA) and employment impacts that are likely to materialise through the supply chain and provision of labour. This regional study area will be defined following review of the results of the socio-economics assessment being undertaken for the Socio-economic Technical Report which will be appended to the EIAR report and provide technical detail in which the onshore and offshore EIA socio-economic impact assessments will draw from.

Figure 7.20: Local Socio-Economics and Tourism Study Area for the Proposed Development

7.8.3.    Baseline Environment

772. This section provides a concise summary of the socio-economics and tourism baseline environment of the Proposed Development, reference should be made to Appendix 16  Open where a more detailed description is provided.

Socio-Economics Overview

773. The Seagreen Alpha/Bravo socio-economic baseline profile noted that the majority of the open coastline between Aberdeen and Eyemouth is sparsely populated with major population centres present within the Firths of Forth and Tay (Dundee and Edinburgh).
774. In mid-2020, the median age across the local authorities within the Regional Study Area ranged from 36.5 years of age in the City of Edinburgh, to 47.1 years of age in Angus (National Records of Scotland, 2019). The percentage of the population in the working age group varied from 60% of the population of Angus, to 70% of the City of Edinburgh.
775. A review of Scotland’s labour market (Scottish Government, 2020b) suggests that in 2019 the second highest employment rate across Scotland was in Perth and Kinross with 83.4% employment. Comparatively, the lowest employment rate across Scotland was observed in Dundee City with an employment rate of 68.6%. (Scottish Government, 2020b).
776. The renewable energy sector has grown steadily in Scotland over the past few years, with an annual capacity increase of 770 MW between 2009 to 2019 (Scottish Renewables, 2020). A survey in 2017 suggest that around 17,700 full-time employees in the Scottish renewable energy sector, of which 3,400 were within the offshore wind segment (Office for National Statistics, 2019).

Tourism Overview

777. Due to the offshore nature of the Proposed Development, it is unlikely to support recreational or tourism activities. The western boundary of the Proposed Development Array Area is approximately 33.5 km from the nearest coastline and approximately 16.4 km from the closest recognised Royal Yachting Association (RYA) sailing area. There are several wrecks located within the Proposed Development Array Area and proposed ECC, but the depths of these wrecks exceed those which attract recreational divers. Likewise, the seabed within the Proposed Development Array Area and proposed ECC is relatively featureless and does not contain notable features which typically attract recreational divers. The nearshore and inshore waters which the proposed ECC crosses may also support recreational sea angling.
778. A review of the tourism in the region associated within the landfall locations (Thorntonloch and Skateraw, in East Lothian) suggests approximately 62% of tourists visit the beach and approximately 55% undertake sightseeing and tours (Scottish Tourism Alliance, 2019). In 2018, nearly half (48%) of all visitors undertook some kind of sporting activity, and hiking / walking / rambling remains the most popular sporting activity amongst visitors, especially overseas visitors (36%), whilst golf and birdwatching are undertaken by around one-tenth of all visitors, outdoor water sports only 5% and fishing only 2% (Scottish Tourism Alliance, 2019).

7.8.4.    Potential Proposed Development Impacts

779. A range of potential impacts on socio-economics and tourism have been identified which may occur during the construction, operation and maintenance, and decommissioning phases of the Proposed Development in the absence of designed in measures (Table 7.18  Open ▸ ):

• Construction

–           Direct, indirect, and induced employment impacts in the supply chain supported by construction activity;

–           Direct, indirect, and induced GVA impacts in the supply chain supported by construction activity;

–           Impact on access to construction-related employment amongst local residents;

–           Impact on the demand for housing, accommodation and local services; and

–           Impact on tourism and recreation activity and associated economic value.

• Operation and Maintenance

–           Direct, indirect, and induced employment impacts in the supply chain supported by operation and maintenance activity;

–           Impact on the amount of GVA (£m) supported by operation and maintenance activity;

–           Impact on access to operation and maintenance related employment amongst local residents;

–           Impact on the demand for housing, accommodation and local services; and

–           Impact on tourism and recreation activity and associated economic value.

• Decommissioning

–           Direct, indirect, and induced employment impacts in the supply chain supported by decommissioning activity;

–           Impact on access to decommissioning related employment amongst local residents;

–           Impact on demand for housing, accommodation and local services; and

–           Impact on tourism and recreation activity and associated economic value.

7.8.5.    Designed in Measures

780. At this stage, there are no designed in measures considered for socio-economics receptors, as it is anticipated that the overriding socio-economic impacts of the Proposed Development will be positive in nature. Consultation will be carried out with local stakeholders and public sector bodies, such as Scottish Enterprise, and through other activities that raise awareness of the opportunities that the Proposed Development provide to maximise the positive socio-economic impacts.
781. Several opportunities which could be considered to enhance the positive impacts include:

• the use of locally manufactured content where possible;
• the use of local contractors (where possible) during construction for onshore infrastructure and potential offshore construction work where possible;
• employment and training possibilities for local people on the operation and maintenance of a wind farm where feasible;
• supporting the community through sponsorship of local groups and teams;
• open approach to engagement with all members of the local community, including attendance at community meetings when requested; and
• continued engagement and discussion with local environmental agencies, such as Restoration Forth.
  782. However, the requirement and feasibility of any mitigation measures will be dependent on the significance of the effects on the socio-economics receptors and will be consulted upon with relevant consultees throughout the EIA process.

7.8.6.    Potential Impacts after the Implementation of designed in measures

783. The impacts that have been scoped into the Proposed Development assessment are outlined in Table 7.18  Open ▸ together with a description of any additional data collection (e.g. site-specific surveys) and/or supporting analyses (e.g. modelling) that will be required to enable a full assessment of the impacts.
784. On the basis of the baseline socio-economics and tourism information currently available and the Proposed Development description outlined in section 2  Open ▸ , no impacts are proposed to be scoped out of the assessment for socio-economics and tourism at this stage.

 

Table 7.18: Impacts Proposed to be Scoped In to the Proposed Development Assessment for Socio-Economics and Tourism. Project phase refers to construction (C), operation and maintenance (O) and decommissioning (D) phase of the Proposed Development

 

7.8.7.    Proposed Approach to the Environmental Impact Assessment

785. The socio-economics and tourism EIA will follow the methodology set out in section 4  Open ▸ . The assessment will consider the Likely Significant Effect (LSE – as defined by the EIA Regulations) associated with the offshore infrastructure on onshore and offshore receptors. The socio-economic impacts of the construction, operation and maintenance and the decommissioning of the Proposed Development have the potential to be significant and will impact at a regional and local level.
786. The assessment will be based on a desktop review of existing relevant studies and national datasets and indicators and will be supported by the development of an economic impact model. The assessment will also draw on the information provided in other topics such as commercial fisheries (section 7.1  Open ▸ ), shipping and navigation (section 7.2  Open ▸ ), aviation, military and communications (section 7.3  Open ▸ ), marine archaeology (section 7.4  Open ▸ ), seascape and visual resources (section 7.5  Open ▸ ), and infrastructure and other users (section 7.6  Open ▸ ). The socio-economic impacts and benefits will be quantified in terms of local (Scottish Borders, East Lothian, Fife, Dundee City, and Angus local authorities) and regional (Scotland) impacts. The methodology for the socio-economic assessment will consider the results from the economic impact model that takes account of all possible impacts: direct, indirect, induced, supply chain effects, and potential for local production and maintenance. This will include consideration of factors such as leakage, displacement, substitution, and economic multipliers.
787. Policy precedent and established guidance on assessing the impact of development on socio-economics will also be utilised to inform the assessment, including:

• Environmental Impact Assessment Handbook: Guidance for competent authorities, consultation bodies, and others involved in the Environmental Impact Assessment process in Scotland (Scottish Natural Heritage/ Historic Environment Scotland, 2018);
• draft Advice on Net Economic Benefit and Planning (The Scottish Government, 2016); and
• Supply, Use and Input-Output Tables: 1998-2017 (Scottish Government, 2020).
  788. SSER also understands there is additional guidance in development by Marine Scotland. This will also be utilised in the development of the assessment, if available.
  789. A Project level socio-economics Technical Report will be developed and will support the Offshore and Onshore EIA Reports socio-economics and tourism assessments. This Technical Report will be appended to the Offshore EIAR, and will support the relevant sections of the Offshore EIAR and Onshore EIA Report.

Potential Cumulative Effects

790. Although the predicted effects of the Proposed Development on socio-economics are considered to be localised, there is potential for cumulative effects to occur from other projects or activities within the regional socio-economics study area. Projects and activities which will be considered include:

• other offshore wind farms and associated onshore cabling and infrastructure;
• onshore energy generation projects;
• road and rail projects;
• major residential, commercial and leisure projects; and
• minerals extraction and landfill projects.
  791. The CEA will follow the methodology set out in section 4  Open ▸ .

Potential Transboundary Impacts

792. A screening of transboundary impacts has been carried out and is presented in Appendix 3  Open . No potential transboundary effects have been identified for socio-economics and therefore this will not be considered within the EIAR.

7.8.8.    Scoping Questions to Consultees

• Are there any additional baseline datasets to those included in Appendix 16  Open that should be reviewed to characterise the socio-economics baseline?
• With regard to the cumulative effects assessment, are there projects and activities that consultees would particularly want to draw attention to for consideration/inclusion?
• Do you agree that all potential impacts have been identified for socio-economics receptors?

7.8.9.    Next Steps

793. Consultation will commence with the relevant stakeholders to ensure that the key impacts and receptors are clearly identified prior to submission of the Offshore EIAR. This will also allow mitigations discussions to take place early to ensure that suitable mitigations solutions can be delivered in good time for the construction phase of the Proposed Development, and also ensure positive impacts are enhanced. In particular, stakeholders and impacted communities will be consulted to identify social and tourism impacts, and potential mitigation measures.
794. A Socio-economic Technical Report (BVGA (2021) will be developed to cover the onshore and offshore socio-economic baseline environment of the Project, and will support the relevant sections of the Offshore EIA Report and Onshore EIA Report.