15.13. Proposed Monitoring

  1. No infrastructure and other users monitoring to test the predictions made within the assessment of LSE1 on infrastructure and other users is considered necessary.

15.14. Transboundary Effects

  1. A screening of transboundary impacts has been carried out and has identified that there were no likely significant transboundary effects with regard to infrastructure and other users from the Array upon the interests of European Economic Area (EEA) states.

15.15. Inter-Related Effects (and Ecosystem Assessment)

  1. A description of the likely inter-related effects arising from the Array on infrastructure and other users is provided in volume 2, chapter 20 of the Array EIA Report.
  2. For infrastructure and other users, the following potential impacts have been considered within the inter-related assessment:
  • physical restriction on space for recreational craft and recreational fishing vessels;
  • physical restriction on space for recreational activities/recreational fishing; and
  • physical impact or loss of access to existing cables and pipelines.
  1. Table 15.16   Open ▸ lists the inter-related effects (project lifetime effects) that are predicted to arise during the construction, operation and maintenance phase, and decommissioning of the Array and also the inter-related effects (receptor-led effects) that are predicted to arise for infrastructure and other users receptors.
  2. As noted above, effects on infrastructure and other users also have the potential to have secondary effects on other receptors and these effects are fully considered in the topic-specific chapters. These receptors and effects are:
  • physical restriction on space for recreational craft and recreational fishing vessels;
  • displacement of recreational sailing and motor cruising, recreational fishing (boat angling) and other recreational activities (diving vessels);
  • physical restriction on space for recreational activities/recreational fishing;
  • displacement of recreational fishing (shore angling) and other recreational activities and
  • physical impact or loss of access to existing cables and pipelines.

 

Table 15.16:
Summary of Likely Significant Inter-Related Effects for Infrastructure and Other Users from Individual Effects Occurring Across the Construction, Operation and Maintenance and Decommissioning Phases of the Array (Array Lifetime Effects) and from Multiple Effects Interacting Across all Phases (Receptor-led Effects)

Table 15.16: Summary of Likely Significant Inter-Related Effects for Infrastructure and Other Users from Individual Effects Occurring Across the Construction, Operation and Maintenance and Decommissioning Phases of the Array (Array Lifetime Effects) and from Multiple Effects Interacting Across all Phases (Receptor-led Effects)


15.16. Summary of Impacts, Mitigation, Likely Significant Effects and Monitoring

  1. Information on infrastructure and other users within the broad infrastructure and other users study area and the infrastructure and other users study area – inner area was collected through desktop review and consultation. This information is summarised in Table 15.17   Open ▸ and Table 15.18   Open ▸ .
  2. Table 15.17   Open ▸ presents a summary of the potential impacts, designed in measures and the conclusion of LSE1 in EIA terms in respect to infrastructure and other users. The impacts assessed include displacement of recreational sailing and motor cruising, recreational fishing (boat angling) and other recreational activities due to the presence of infrastructure safety zones and advisory safe passing distances, resulting in the loss of recreational resources; and temporary or long term restriction of access to active hydrocarbon licence blocks by oil and gas operators either temporarily or long term as a result of installation, maintenance and decommissioning activities.
  3. Overall, it is concluded that there will be no likely significant arising from the Array during the construction, operation and maintenance, and decommissioning phases.
  4. Table 15.18   Open ▸ presents a summary of the potential impacts, designed in measures and the conclusion of LSE1 on infrastructure and other users in EIA terms. The cumulative effects assessed include displacement of recreational vessels, and restricted access to active hydrocarbon licence blocks by oil and gas operators. Overall, it is concluded that there will be no likely significant cumulative effects from the Array alongside other projects/plans.
  5. No likely significant transboundary effects have been identified in regard to effects of the Array.

. 

Table 15.17:
Summary of Likely Significant Environmental Effects, Secondary Mitigation and Monitoring

Table 15.17: Summary of Likely Significant Environmental Effects, Secondary Mitigation and Monitoring

 

Table 15.18:
Summary of Likely Significant Cumulative Environment Effects, Mitigation and Monitoring

Table 15.18: Summary of Likely Significant Cumulative Environment Effects, Mitigation and Monitoring


15.17. References

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CampionWind (2022). ScottishPower and Shell win bids to develop 5 GW of floating wind power in the UK. Available at: https://www.campionwind.co.uk/news/scottishpower-and-shell-win-bids-to-develop-5gw-of-floating-wind-power-in-the-uk. Accessed on: 05 December 2023.

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[1] This column refers to whether there is an overlap between the active hydrocarbon licence blocks and the infrastructure and other users study area – inner area.

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

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

[4] Eastern Green Link 3 cannot be included in Figure 15.9   Open ▸ because the cable is currently only planned and location is currently undetermined.

[5] Eastern Green Link 4 cannot be included in Figure 15.9   Open ▸ because cable is currently only planned and the location is currently undetermined.

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

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