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Written question asked by Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 13 January 2021, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 27 January 2021. It was answered by Lord Callanan (Conservative) on Wednesday, 27 January 2021 on behalf of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Wind Power: Seas and Oceans

Question

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of large-scale offshore windfarms on (1) the ecology of the seabed, (2) the ecology of the sea, (3) birdlife, and (4) maritime geomorphological processes whether undersea or coastal.

Answer

Offshore wind developers are required to carry out an Environmental Impact Assessment as part of any planning application. The Environmental Impact Assessment affords protection to the environment by ensuring that the planning authority considers any significant effects as part of the decision-making process and that the local community are informed of any impacts.

Planning applications for offshore wind projects in England and Wales above 100MW capacity are determined by my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State through the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects regime. In respect of these, details are publicly available on the Planning Inspectorate’s website: https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/

In addition, DEFRA has undertaken strategic assessments of the environmental impacts of offshore wind developments, including assessments of the marine environment and ecology, potential compensatory measures, and net gain. Given the Government’s ambitions for offshore wind, BEIS and DEFRA are working closely with other Government bodies, the Crown Estate, industry and wider stakeholders. This work will prepare for and mitigate against the environmental impacts of growth in this sector. Included in this is the Offshore Wind Enabling Actions programme, a £4.3m action programme to be jointly run by DEFRA and BEIS and the Offshore Wind Evidence and Change Programme (a partnership between BEIS, DEFRA, The Crown Estate and Crown Estate Scotland) to deliver upon its aims.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL12099
Session
2019-21
Subjects
Birds Seas and oceans Wind power Ecology
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk