Offshore wind energy - draft updated sectoral marine plan 2025: consultation analysis report
Key findings from the consultation on the draft updated Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy (SMP-OWE), which ran from 30 May to 22 August 2025.
7 Overarching Themes
7.1 Consultation Process
7.1.1 Many respondents welcomed the opportunity to participate in the consultation process, recognising it as a valuable forum to share insights and concerns regarding the draft updated Plan. This engagement was seen as an important step in ensuring transparency, accountability, and the incorporation of varied perspectives into wider sectoral marine planning. Several respondents emphasised that ongoing dialogue and responsiveness to stakeholder input will be essential for refining the updated Plan and achieving robust, balanced outcomes for all sectors involved.
7.2 General Objections to Offshore Wind
7.2.1 A number of respondents objected to offshore wind in principle due to its environmental impact as well as effects on fisheries, tourism and local communities, particularly coastal and island communities. Respondents mentioned effects such disruption to traditional fishing grounds, threats to local livelihoods, and changes in marine ecosystems. There was also concern about the effect on tourism and local communities related to visual, noise and construction impacts particularly within coastal and island communities.
7.3 Option Area-Specific Concerns
7.3.1 More than half of the respondents, mainly individuals, raised specific opposition to the N4 Option Area. Particular concerns were raised about the proximity of the development to the coastline, as well as more generally the impacts on fisheries, tourism and community cohesion and how traditional ways of life and local culture were addressed within the assessments. There was a perceived lack of consultation with island communities that respondents stated should be more locally accessible and tailored to their concerns. These concerns will be addressed in more detail through the finalisation of the Island Communities Impact Assessment, which will be published alongside the adopted updated Plan.
7.4 Plan Approaches and Mitigations
7.4.1 Concerns from the offshore wind sector were raised regarding overly precautionary approaches in the supporting assessments, indicating the need to establish differing scales of information required for plan-level versus project-level assessment. Comments were also raised on the need for clarity on any future mitigation measures, indicating that a standardised, consistent and transparent approach was crucial to streamline delivery.