Offshore wind energy - draft updated Sectoral Marine Plan: partial business and regulatory impact assessment
The purpose of the business and regulatory impact assessment for the draft updated Sectoral Marine Plan for offshore wind energy is to determine where the implementation of the Plan may have impacts on regulatory processes.
Annex D: Consumer duty impact assessment not required template
Title of the programme/proposal/decision
Updated Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy (SMP-OWE) (2025)
Programme/proposal/decision implementation date
To update the SMP-OWE (2025), which if adopted by Scottish Ministers, will supersede the SMP-OWE (2020). The implementation date is set for Autumn 2025.
Directorate/Division/Service/Team
Sectoral Marine Planning Team, Offshore Wind Directorate
Responsible officer for taking decision
Caroline Daumich
Who else participated in taking the decision
Kirsten Dinwoodie / Fiona Munro
Was the decision taken by a partnership?
No
Rationale for decision
Consumer duty requirements have been met through undertaking a previous gap analysis which resulted in the decision to carry out a focused Business Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA). The gap analysis highlighted the overlap between impacts assessed in both the BRIA and Socio-Economic Impact Assessment (SEIA), and therefore the necessity to only focus on regulatory impacts within the BRIA to avoid duplication of effort.
Within the gap analysis, it was noted under ‘Consumer Assessment’ that the policy does not affect the quality, availability or price of any goods or services on the market. Further details of this can be found within Annex A of the focused-BRIA for the SMP-OWE (2025).
It was noted within the gap analysis that any upgrades to the national grid infrastructure/network required as a result of increased offshore wind development cannot be accurately predicted at present, as these are drive by market demand and other factors out with the Plan. Any such upgrades/improvements will therefore be subject to a separate BRIA via the National Grid at the relevant point in time.
Declaration:
I confirm that the decision not to perform a consumer duty assessment has been authorised by:
Name and job title:
Lucy Law, Deputy Director, Offshore Wind Directorate
Date:
22/01/2025