Operation and Maintenance Phase
  1. The potential Tier 1 cumulative impacts on GVA in operation and maintenance activities at the socio-economics local study area and Scotland level are set out in Table 13.62   Open ▸ . This will create opportunities to both safeguard existing GVA output and facilitate new GVA output.

 

Table 13.62:
Potential Tier 1 Cumulative Impacts on GVA in Operation and Maintenance Activities – by Socio-economics Local Study Area and Scotland

Table 13.62: Potential Tier 1 Cumulative Impacts on GVA in Operation and Maintenance Activities – by Socio-economics Local Study Area and Scotland

 

Magnitude of Impact

  1. A comparison of the assessed impacts compared to the relevant baseline conditions is set out in Table 13.63   Open ▸ .

 

Table 13.63:
Comparison of Tier 1 Cumulative Operation and Maintenance Phase GVA Impacts vs. Relevant Baseline Conditions – by Socio-economics Local Study Area and Scotland

Table 13.63: Comparison of Tier 1 Cumulative Operation and Maintenance Phase GVA Impacts vs. Relevant Baseline Conditions – by Socio-economics Local Study Area and Scotland

 

  1. The magnitude of impact for the socio-economics local study area and Scotland is set out in Table 13.64   Open ▸ .

 

Table 13.64:
Magnitude of Tier 1 Cumulative Operation and Maintenance Phase GVA Impacts – by Socio-economics Local Study Area and Scotland

Table 13.64: Magnitude of Tier 1 Cumulative Operation and Maintenance Phase GVA Impacts – by Socio-economics Local Study Area and Scotland

Note: Assigned values from Table 13.9   Open ▸ shown in brackets.

 

Sensitivity of the Receptor

  1. As per sub-section 13.8, the sensitivity of the receptor for the socio-economics local study area and Scotland is assessed as high.

Significance of the Effect

  1. The significance of the effect for the socio-economics local study area and Scotland is set out in Table 13.65   Open ▸ .

 

Table 13.65:
Significance of Tier 1 Operation and Maintenance Phase GVA Impacts – by Socio-economics Local Study Area and Scotland

Table 13.65: Significance of Tier 1 Operation and Maintenance Phase GVA Impacts – by Socio-economics Local Study Area and Scotland

 

  1. At the socio-economics local study area level, the magnitude of Tier 1 cumulative impacts is deemed to be medium (beneficial) and the sensitivity of the receptor is considered to be high. Tier 1 cumulative effects will, therefore, be of moderate to major beneficial significance, which is significant in EIA terms.
  2. At Scotland level, the magnitude of Tier 1 cumulative impacts is deemed to be low (beneficial) and the sensitivity of the receptor is considered to be high. Tier 1 cumulative effects will, therefore, be of minor to moderate beneficial significance, which is not significant in EIA terms.
Decommissioning Phase
  1. Potential expenditure on decommissioning of Tier 1 project(s) could support GVA in activities associated with decommissioning in Scotland.
  2. The scale and duration of decommissioning activity is uncertain. The exact approach to decommissioning is not yet confirmed as best practice at the time is not currently known. It is currently anticipated that onshore infrastructure would be retained and repurposed, and offshore structures above seabed level will be removed, subject to review in the future based on likely environmental impacts.
  3. On this basis the magnitude of effects is expected to be significantly lower than those set out for the construction phase under the Baseline and Enhanced scenarios.
  4. The significance of Tier 1 cumulative effects assessed at construction phase for GVA in construction activities are set out in Table 13.57   Open ▸ . Based on currently available evidence, it is concluded the significance of Tier 1 cumulative effects for the decommissioning phase will be of no greater than moderate beneficial significance across Scotland. This is significant in EIA terms.

Tiers 2–4

Construction Phase
  1. There is negligible[11] change in the potential cumulative impacts on GVA in construction activities at the socio-economics local study area between the Proposed Development and Tiers 2–4.
  2. The significance of the Tiers 2–4 cumulative effects for the socio-economics local study area are unchanged from those set out for the Proposed Development.
  3. There is negligible[12] change in the potential cumulative impacts on GVA in construction activities at Scotland level between Tier 1 and Tiers 2–4.
  4. The significance of the Tiers 2–4 cumulative effects for Scotland are unchanged from those set out for Tier 1.
Enhanced Scenario
  1. As per the Baseline scenario above, under the Enhanced scenario there is negligible change in the potential cumulative impacts on GVA in construction activities at Scotland level between Tier 1 and Tiers 2–4.
  2. The significance of the Tiers 2–4 cumulative effects for Scotland under the Enhanced scenario are unchanged from those set out for Tier 1.
Operation and maintenance phase
  1. There is negligible change in the potential cumulative impacts on GVA in operation and maintenance activities at the socio-economics local study area and Scotland level between Tier 1 and Tiers 2–4. Therefore, the significance of the Tiers 2–4 cumulative effects for the socio-economics local study area and Scotland are unchanged from those set out for Tier 1.
Decommissioning phase
  1. The scale and duration of decommissioning activity is uncertain. The exact approach to decommissioning is not yet confirmed as best practice at the time is not currently known. It is currently anticipated that onshore infrastructure would be retained and repurposed, and offshore structures above seabed level will be removed, subject to review in the future on the basis of likely environmental impacts.
  2. On this basis the magnitude of effects is expected to be significantly lower than those set out for the construction phase under the Baseline and Enhanced scenarios.
  3. On the basis of currently available evidence, it is concluded the significance of Tiers 2–4 cumulative effects for the decommissioning phase will be of no greater than minor beneficial significance across the socio-economics local study area and Scotland. This is not significant in EIA terms.

13.13. Inter-Related Effects

  1. No inter-related effects are anticipated on socio-economics receptors.

13.14. Summary of Impacts, Mitigation Measures and Monitoring

  1. Information on socio-economics within the socio-economics local study area and Scotland was collected through desktop review.
  2. Table 13.66   Open ▸ and Table 13.67   Open ▸ present a summary of the potential impacts, mitigation measures and residual effects in respect to socio-economics. The impacts assessed include:
  • impact on employment activities (including supply chain); and
  • impact on GVA (£) (including supply chain).
    1. Table 13.68   Open ▸ and Table 13.69   Open ▸ present a summary of the potential cumulative effects, mitigation measures and residual effects. The cumulative effects assessed include:
  • impact on employment activities (including supply chain); and
  • impact on GVA (£) (including supply chain).
Table 13.66:
Summary of Likely Significant Socio-economics Effects, Mitigation and Monitoring – Socio-economics Local Study Area

Table 13.66: Summary of Likely Significant Socio-economics Effects, Mitigation and Monitoring – Socio-economics Local Study Area


Table 13.67:
Summary of Likely Significant Socio-economics Effects, Mitigation and Monitoring – Scotland

Table 13.67: Summary of Likely Significant Socio-economics Effects, Mitigation and Monitoring – Scotland


Table 13.68:
Summary of Likely Significant Cumulative Socio-economics Effects, Mitigation and Monitoring – Socio-economics Local Study Area

Table 13.68: Summary of Likely Significant Cumulative Socio-economics Effects, Mitigation and Monitoring – Socio-economics Local Study Area

*No Tier 1 project impact at this geography – no change from Proposed Development significance of effects


Table 13.69:
Summary of Likely Significant Cumulative Socio-economics Effects, Mitigation and Monitoring – Scotland

Table 13.69:  Summary of Likely Significant Cumulative Socio-economics Effects, Mitigation and Monitoring – Scotland

13.15. References

BVG Associates (2021). Berwick Bank Wind Farm: Socioeconomic technical report. BVA Associates, Glasgow.

East Lothian Council (2018). East Lothian Local Development Plan 2018. East Lothian Council, Haddington.

Fraser Allander Institute (2021). Economic Impact of Scotland’s Renewable Energy Sector. University of Strathclyde, Glasgow.

Glasson, J; Durning, B; Olorundami, T; and Welch, K (2020). Guidance on assessing the socio-economic impacts of offshore wind farms (OWFs). Oxford Brookes University, Oxford.

Inch Cape Offshore Windfarm (2018). Inch Cape Onshore Environmental Impact Assessment – 2018. Inch Cape Offshore Limited, Edinburgh.

National Records of Scotland (2020). Population Projections for Scottish Areas, 2018-based. Available at: https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/statistics-and-data/statistics/statistics-by-theme/population/population-projections/sub-national-population-projections/2018-based. Accessed on: 26 April 2022.

Office for National Statistics (2019). Regional gross value added (balanced) by industry: local authorities. Available at: https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/grossvalueaddedgva/datasets/regionalgrossvalueaddedbalancedlocalauthoritiesbynuts1region. Accessed on: 26 April 2022.

Office for National Statistics (2022). Business Register and Employment Survey. Available at: www.nomisweb.co.uk. Accessed on: 26 April 2022.

Offshore Wind Scotland (2022). Scottish Offshore Wind Supply Chain Directory. Available at: https://www.offshorewindscotland.org.uk/sowec/supply-chain-directory/. Accessed on:16 February 2022.

Scottish Borders Council (2016). Scottish Borders Local Development Plan. Melrose.

Scottish Enterprise (2019). Building Scotland’s Future Today: Scottish Enterprise’s Strategic Framework 2019–2022. Glasgow.

Scottish Government (2013). Planning Scotland’s Seas: The Scottish Marine Protected Area Project – Developing the Evidence Base for Impact Assessments and the Sustainability Appraisal. Edinburgh.

Scottish Government (2015). Scotland’s Economic Strategy. Edinburgh.

Scottish Government (2020a). Economic Recovery Implementation Plan. Edinburgh.

Scottish Government (2020b). Offshore Wind Policy Statement. Edinburgh.

Scottish Government (2020c). Shaping Scotland’s Economy. Inward Investment Plan. Edinburgh.

Scottish Government (2020d). Scotland’s marine economic statistics 2018. Edinburgh.

Scottish Government (2020e). Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy. Edinburgh.

Scottish Government (2021a). Scotland 2045: Our Fourth National Planning Framework (draft). Edinburgh.

Scottish Government (2021b). Scottish Budget 2022-23. Available at: https://www.gov.scot/news/scottish-budget-2022-23/. Accessed on: 16 February 2022.

Seagreen 1A Offshore Windfarm (2021). Seagreen 1A: Onshore Transmission Works Environmental Impact Assessment Report. Glasgow, Seagreen 1A Limited.

Smith, M. (2021). Scottish Offshore Wind Strategic Investment Assessment. SOWEC.

SSER (2022). The Cambois connection Scoping Report (SSER, 2022)

SSER (2021). Berwick Bank Wind Farm: Onshore EIA Scoping Report. Glasgow, SSE Renewables.


 

[1] Labour catchment areas are commonly defined based on the locations from which people are typically drawn to an employment location such as a business, an employment centre (such as a port), or an entire town or city.

[2] As per non-binding guidance in Glasson, J. et al (2020)

[3] As per Volume 4, Appendix 13.2, local is defined as the location of the onshore grid connection.

[4] C = Construction, O = Operation and maintenance, D = Decommissioning

[5] This overrides the criteria for significance assessment set out at Table 13.13. The extent to which the magnitude of the impact is assessed as negligible is such that anything other than a significance of negligible would be illogical.

[6] See footnote 7.

[7] This overrides the criteria for significance assessment set out at Table 13.13. The extent to which the magnitude of the impact is assessed as negligible is such that anything other than a significance of negligible would be illogical.

[8] This overrides the criteria for significance assessment set out at Table 13.13. The extent to which the magnitude of the impact is assessed as negligible is such that anything other than a significance of negligible would be illogical.

[9] No conceptual effect-receptor pathway

[10] Tier 2 impacts account for a circa 1% increase, which can reasonably be considered negligible.

[11] Tier 2 impacts account for a circa 2% increase, which can reasonably be considered negligible.

[12] Tier 2 impacts account for a circa 0.3% increase, which can reasonably be considered negligible.