Offshore wind energy - draft updated Sectoral Marine Plan: islands communities impact assessment
The purpose of the island communities impact assessment for the draft updated Sectoral Marine Plan for offshore wind energy is to determine where the implementation of the Plan may have differential impacts to island communities across Scotland.
Initial conclusions
A wide range of both positive and negative impacts are expected to arise as a result of offshore wind development across Scotland. This partial ICIA has provided the opportunity to examine how these impacts may be felt differently by those living in Scotland’s islands communities.
It is considered likely that the development of those OAs located close to island communities will have differential impacts on those communities. Issues of key concern relate to visual impacts and direct or indirect impacts to other sectors and activities, primarily tourism, recreation, and fisheries. However, due to the close proximity of developments to certain island communities, there may also be additional localised opportunities for employment and supply chain benefits.
As the updated SMP-OWE is a national-level strategic plan the identification of quantified impacts for the majority of receptors for specific island communities is not possible, however estimates of employment benefits and impact on fisheries employment is estimated for some island communities in the SEIA. Any proposals for development will be subject to further project-level assessment and public engagement before a decision is made as to whether or not a project goes ahead.