1. Introduction

1.1. The purpose of this report to inform appropriate assessment

  1. This Report to Inform Appropriate Assessment (RIAA) has been prepared by RPS and NIRAS Group (United Kingdom (UK)) Ltd on behalf of the Ossian Offshore Wind Limited (Ossian OWFL) (hereafter referred to as the ‘Applicant’). The purpose of this RIAA is to support the Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA) of the Array in the determination of the implications for European sites. This RIAA builds upon the Array HRA Stage One Likely Significant Effects (LSE2) Screening Report (Part 1. appendix 1A, Ossian OWFL, 2023) and the subsequent joint Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Scoping and LSE2 Screening advice received in the Ossian Array Scoping Opinion (Marine Directorate – Licensing Operations Team (MD-LOT) (2023)). This RIAA assesses whether the Array could have an adverse effect, either alone, or in-combination with other plans or projects, on the integrity of any European site. This RIAA has been carried out with regards to NatureScot's Guidance Notes 1 to 11 (NatureScot, 2023a-k). This report will provide the Competent Authority with the information required to undertake an HRA Stage Two Appropriate Assessment.
  2. The scope of this RIAA Part Three SPA and Ramsar Site Assessments covers all relevant SPAs and Ramsar Sites and their qualifying interest features where a LSE2 has been identified in the HRA Stage One Screening Report (Part 1, appendix 1A), due to the potential impacts arising from the Array. This includes both ‘offshore’ European sites and features (seaward of Mean High Water Springs (MHWS)) and ‘onshore’ European sites (landward of Mean Low Water Springs (MLWS) where appropriate.

1.2. Structure of the RIAA

  1. As detailed in section 1.5 of Part 1 – Introduction, for clarity and ease of navigation, the RIAA is structured and reported in the below ‘Parts’, as follows:
  • Executive Summary and Conclusion
  • Part 1: Introduction;
  • Part 2: Special Area of Conservation (SAC) Assessments; and
  • Part 3: Special Protection Area (SPA) and Ramsar Site Assessments.

1.3. Structure of this Document

  1. As stated in paragraph 3, this document constitutes Part 3 of the RIAA, and presents the assessment of the implications of the Array on SPAs and Ramsar sites,
  2. This document is structured as follows:
  • Section 1: Introduction, which details the purpose and structure of the RIAA and this Part 3 document;
  • Section 2: Consultation, which provides a summary of relevant consultation undertaken to date, the responses provided and how these have been addressed within this Part of the RIAA;
  • Section 3: Summary of the Array HRA Stage One LSE2 Screening conclusions for SPAs and Ramsar sites;
  • Section 4: Information to inform the Appropriate Assessment – which includes the Maximum Design Scenario (MDS), information on designed in measures, and an outline of the baseline data on the SPAs and Ramsar sites;
  • Section 5: Assessment of Adverse Effects on Integrity on European sites designated for ornithological features, alone and in-combination with other plans and projects;
  • Section 6: Overall summary of this Part of the RIAA; and
  • Section 7: References.
  1. This Part of the RIAA will also contain the following appendices:
  • Appendix 3A – Offshore Ornithology SPA Apportioning Technical Report; and
  • Appendix 3B – Offshore Ornithology SPA Population Viability Analysis (PVA) Technical Report.