Updated Offshore Wind Policy Statement: island communities impact assessment

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:

• Are there mitigations in place for the impacts identified and noted above from stakeholders and community consultations? (If further ICIA action is not required, complete the section below and publish).
• 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

It is our view that the uOWPS will not affect island communities in a way that is significantly different from its effects on other communities, as it is a high-level policy document.

The public consultation which informed the uOWPS was held online, enabling participants from urban and rural geographies to take part. The consultation responses did not flag any specific challenges that island communities may face over mainland communities.