1.18. Socio-economics

  1. The socio-economic assessment considers the impacts on the Scottish and UK economies associated with contracts required for construction, operation and maintenance, and decommissioning of the Array. While construction and operation and maintenance ports are not yet known, this includes a discussion of the impacts in the areas immediately surrounding ports, such as demographic and housing effects. It has been based on the PDE Option with the lowest expected beneficial economic impacts, which is considered as a ‘most adverse scenario’.
  2. The strategic priorities of Scotland and the UK were characterised using desk-based surveys. As part of the transition to a net zero economy, renewables sources of electricity such as offshore wind are key to reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Offshore wind is also seen as a potential economic opportunity, supporting new, well-paid jobs as part of the just transition to more sustainable economy.
  3. Both Scotland and the UK are expected to have declining working age populations in the medium term, as their population structures include a higher proportion of older people. The Scottish economy is well-placed to support offshore employment, given its legacy of offshore oil and gas exploration. It also stands to benefit from an increase in manufacturing employment, which is relatively under-represented compared to its share of the population.
  4. The potential impacts on socio-economics, associated with the construction, operation and maintenance, and decommissioning phases include:
  • employment and Gross Value Added (GVA) impacts during all phases;
  • demographic changes and demand for housing and other services during all phases;
  • changes to visitor behaviour during all phases;
  • changes to commercial fisheries during all phases; and
  • changes to shipping and marine recreation during all phases.
  1. With the proposed designed in measures in place, all these impacts result in effects of negligible to major beneficial significance.
  2. Cumulative impacts arising from the Array together with other projects and plans were assessed and predicted to result in effects of negligible to moderate beneficial significance, or minor adverse significance.
  3. No secondary mitigation was proposed for the Array alone or cumulative impacts resulting in moderate or major beneficial significance (which is considered significant in EIA terms) as the Applicant has committed to enhancement of beneficial effects as per their proposed designed in measures.