Offshore wind energy - draft updated Sectoral Marine Plan: statement of publication participation
Statement outlining how we will undertake the public consultation on the draft updated Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy (SMP-OWE).
How has the draft updated Sectoral Marine Plan been developed?
4.1 The sustainability of the draft updated SMP-OWE has been appraised by bringing together assessment of the environmental, social and economic impacts of the ScotWind, INTOG and potential future Test and Demonstration sites.
4.2 The draft updated SMP-OWE and assessments have been developed and supported by a cross-sectoral Steering Group. The role of the Steering Group is to provide advice on the technical assessment of potential impacts of the draft Plan. Full detail regarding the membership of these groups is provided in Annex A.
4.3 Development of the draft updated SMP-OWE follows on from the following previous steps undertaken to inform and implement the previous SMP-OWE (2020).
1) Opportunity and Constraint Analysis – Iteration 1
2) Opportunity and Constraint Analysis – Iteration 2 – Single Issue Constraint Analysis
3) Scoping Consultation
4) Opportunity and Constraint Analysis – Iteration 3
5) Identification of Draft Plan Options
6) Assessment of Draft Plan Options
7) Consultation on Draft Plan Options
8) Finalisation and adoption of the SMP-OWE (2020)
9) CES ScotWind Leasing Round (2021)
10) CES ScotWind Clearance Leasing
Stage 1 – Scoping, screening and Identification of Plan Options for INTOG and Test and Demonstration Projects (2021 to 2022)
4.4 In 2021, an opportunity and constraint analysis undertaken to identify broad Areas of Search and Areas of Exclusion was made available for public comment and consultation. The result of this consultation was set out in the INTOG Initial Plan Framework (“IPF”) alongside refinements to the Areas of Search, which was published in 2022. The INTOG planning process overlapped with the CES leasing process, allowing CES to offer applicants a form of exclusivity for an area of seabed earlier in the process.
4.5 Plan Options proposed for INTOG included and assessed in the draft updated SMP-OWE were identified via outcomes of the CES INTOG leasing round as specific project locations within the Areas of Search set out in the INTOG IPF.
4.6 Scottish Ministers agreed that the 20 ScotWind projects awarded Option Agreements within the SMP-OWE’s 15 spatial Plan Options, and the additional 12 INTOG projects receiving Exclusivity Agreements, would proceed to undergo reassessment for the updated SMP-OWE (Stage 2).
Stage 2 – Sustainability Appraisal and preparation of the draft updated Plan (2022 to 2025)
4.7 Preparation of Sustainability Appraisal report on the Plan Options (comprising of Strategic Environmental Assessment, Socio Economic Impact Assessment, Habitats Regulations Appraisal and Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area Assessment) and preparation of the draft updated Plan, in consultation with the cross-sectoral Steering Group. Draft Regional Locational Guidance was also prepared.
4.8 The draft updated Plan will also be assessed for impacts on a wide range of areas, through the Islands Communities Impact Assessment (“ICIA”) and Business Regulatory Impact Assessment (“BRIA”) and the reports for these partial assessments will be published for consultation with the draft updated Plan.
4.9 Scottish Ministers will approve the draft updated Plan and Sustainability Appraisal for publication and consultation (Stage 3).
Stage 3 – Consultation (commencing May 2025)
4.10 Formal statutory consultation on the draft updated Plan and Sustainability Appraisal assessments (for 12 weeks) via Citizen Space. Public events will be held in locations across Scotland and further detail is provided below.
Stage 4 – Consultation analysis (Summer 2025)
4.11 Analysis of responses and preparation of the consultation analysis report. The draft updated Plan will be revised, in response to comments made during the consultation on the Plan and supporting information. A consultation analysis report will be published within 12 weeks of the consultation closing.
4.12 In the event that major changes are required to the draft updated Plan as a result of the consultation, further assessment and/or consultation may be required. This will result in revised timescales for final adoption and publication.
Stage 5 – Plan finalisation (Autumn 2025)
4.13 Presentation of the updated Final Plan for approval and adoption by Scottish Ministers, followed by publication of the updated Plan (along with relevant supporting information, Appropriate Assessment and Post Adoption Statement) as soon as possible thereafter. Final versions of the ICIA and BRIA will also be prepared.
Stage 6 – Post adoption statement, implementation and monitoring (Autumn 2025 onwards)
4.14 After Plan adoption, an SEA Post-Adoption statement will be produced in line with relevant Environmental Assessment legislative requirements. The updated Final Plan will not undergo any further iterative plan review.