Conservation of Habitats and Species (Offshore Wind) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2026: ICIA screening report

Step Four - Assessment

11. Does your assessment identify any unique impacts on island communities? (Further detail in the Guidance):

• Demographic
• Economic
• Gaelic
• Social

Following receipt of feedback through the consultation, responses were analysed independently by the marine consultant APBmer. The consultation analysis report is available here: https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/consultation-analysis/2025/12/offshore-wind-strategic-compensation-policy-consultation-analysis-report/documents/strategic-compensation-policy-offshore-wind-2025-consultation-analysis-report-22-july-2025-1-september-2025/strategic-compensation-policy-offshore-wind-2025-consultation-analysis-report-22-july-2025-1-september-2025/govscot%3Adocument/strategic-compensation-policy-offshore-wind-2025-consultation-analysis-report-22-july-2025-1-september-2025.pdf.

We asked the following question during the consultation: ‘Do you think that this Policy will have an effect on an island community which is different from its effect on other communities (including other island communities)?’

The total number of responses to this question was 28 which was from 28 organisations. In total, 26% of respondents answered yes to the question, 13% answered no and 61% answered I don’t know.

Respondents who answered no to the question included:

• 2 respondents from the offshore wind sector
• 1 respondent from the public sector

Respondents who answered yes to the question included:

• 2 respondents from the fishing sector
• 2 respondents from the public sector
• 1 respondent from science and research communities
• 1 respondent from a political party

Respondents who answered I don’t know to the question included:

• 3 respondents from the offshore wind sector
• 5 respondents from the fishing sector
• 2 respondents from eNGOs
• 2 respondents from the public sector
• 2 respondents from science and research communities

Prominent topics that arose in the long answer section of this question included:

• Island communities and residents may experience disproportionate impacts from the implementation of compensatory measures for offshore wind (impacts could be both negative and positive such as job creation opportunities, changes to marine space access, and impacts to traditional marine sectors such as fishing).
• Island communities face greater barriers to participating in government consultations and governance processes.
• Island communities are often closely tied to the location of protected sites and their benefits (i.e. socio-economic value of an MPA for local eco-tourism) and therefore would be impacted by compensatory measures sited within protected sites.
• Compensation should be designed with island contexts in mind, supporting community-led stewardship, economic resilience, and biodiversity co-benefits.

Analysis from the responses to this question found an overarching view that island communities are likely to be affected differently and disproportionately by offshore wind compensation compared to other communities. To ensure fairness and maximise benefits, it was raised that compensation projects should be designed and implemented with island contexts in mind and with the engagement and involvement of island communities to ensure that compensation measures are appropriate and beneficial.

However, as set out in response to question 2 above, whilst Scotland’s offshore wind ambitions and the delivery of offshore wind including the delivery of compensatory measures could have a differential impact across islands, the Policy and OW EAR SSI itself does not, as it does not impose specific types or locations of offshore wind development or of environmental compensatory measures. It provides an enabling environment for environmental compensation to be more strategic. It does not directly impose or implement compensatory measures. As such, the impacts/outcomes from the SSI and underpinning policy are not anticipated to differ for islands communities or across the islands.

Based on the evidence gathered, the OW EAR SSI and underpinning Policy is therefore not expected to have a significant differential effect on island communities compared to other areas. The policy is enabling in nature, setting a framework for future strategic environmental compensation rather than determining the type or location of specific measures. As such, it is not anticipated to result in differential impacts on island communities or between islands.

12. Does your assessment identify any potential barriers or wider impacts?

No, for the reasons set out in response to question 11 above, the assessment has not identified any potential barriers or wider impacts from the SSI or underpinning Policy.

13. Are there mitigations already in place for these impacts raised?

As the SSI and underpinning Policy are not aimed at any specific island communities as set out under question 2 and are not anticipated to have differential impacts/outcomes for islands communities or across the islands as set out under question 11, there are no existing design features or mitigations in place in relation to the SSI and policy itself.

Any potential impacts on island communities will be more appropriately assessed at the point where specific compensatory measures or projects are identified and assessed for potential implementation. At that stage, the location, scale and nature of measures would help to determine whether a full ICIA or other community-level assessments would be required, as appropriate. Future applications of the OW EAR SSI and the Policy will continue to consider island contexts where relevant.

Is a full Island Communities Impact Assessment required?

You should now determine whether, in your opinion, your policy, strategy or service is likely to have an effect on an island community which is significantly different from its effect on other communities (including other island communities). To form your opinion, the following questions should be considered:

14. Are there mitigations in place for the impacts identified and noted above from stakeholders and community consultations?

15. Does the evidence show different circumstances or different expectations or needs, or different experiences or outcomes (such as levels of satisfaction, or different rates of participation)?

• Are these different effects likely?
• Are these effects significantly different?
• Could the effect amount to a disadvantage for an island community compared to the mainland or between island groups?

If your answer is ‘no’ to the above questions, please complete the box below. If the answer is ‘yes’, an ICIA must be prepared and you should proceed to Step 5.

For the reasons set out above in response to question 11, following consultation and based on the evidence gathered, the OW EAR SSI and underpinning Policy is not expected to have a differential effect on island communities compared to other areas or between island communities. Any impacts on island communities as a result of this Policy being put into place will be entirely dependent on types and locations of measures – information which is not yet known and will vary on a case-by-case basis.

For these reasons, it has been concluded that a full Islands Communities Impact Assessment is not required at this stage.

Future implementation activities arising from the SSI and Policy will continue to consider island contexts and engage relevant stakeholders, at the appropriate stages.