Our work so far
In June 2022 we published a Scoping Report which set out what we understood at the time to be the Project’s likely effects on the environment and how we would assess them.
Our Scoping Report was followed by the Secretary of State’s Scoping Opinion, which was provided in August 2022.
Since then, we’ve been carrying out a range of environmental assessments to better understand the potential impacts of the Project on the environment. We also continue to engage with stakeholders to understand in greater detail the area that we’re proposing to work in.
Our environmental assessments are undertaken using a wide range of data sources, including project specific surveys. To date, we’ve undertaken the following surveys:
- Geophysical surveys – to distinguish the physical characteristics of the site (surface and subsurface).
- Benthic surveys – to identify and map any habitats. Video footage and a collection of sediment samples have been taken.
- Aerial surveys – to record any birds and marine mammals seen across the site. So far, we have processed a year’s worth of data and have another year’s worth of data that will feed into our final assessment.
- Viewpoint photography – to analyse the existing views in comparison to indicative views of the proposed Project.
- Marine vessel traffic surveys – two 14-day at sea surveys were undertaken to record vessel activity in the area around the Project.
Using the wide range of data gathered, we have produced a Preliminary Environmental Information Report (PEIR). The PEIR provides a summary of the Project, the site selection process, engineering design development and the key findings of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process to date.
The purpose of the EIA is to allow stakeholders to develop an informed view of the development, as required by The Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 (the EIA Regulations 2017).
The PEIR also covers a comprehensive range of environmental topics. It presents assessments and potential impacts that were specified within the Planning Inspectorate’s Scoping Opinion, on behalf of the Secretary of State. Throughout our PEIR, we have set out how we have addressed the comments included in the Scoping Opinion.
Contact us
Should you have any queries, please get in touch with us using one of the methods below:
- Email us: hello@morecambeoffshorewind.com
- Call us: 0800 915 2493 (option 2)
- Write to us: FREEPOST MORECAMBE GENERATION
Visualisations
The size, number and positioning of our turbines have yet to be decided. But at this early stage we’ve created indicative 3D visualisations to show potential views of the Morecambe Offshore Windfarm from a range of onshore locations.
View mapAssessments have been supported by a wide range of analysis, including:
- Underwater noise modelling – to understand effects, particularly in the construction phase during potentially noisy activity (such as piling).
- Collision risk modelling – to predict the number of birds that would be at risk of encounters with turbines or rotor blades.
- Radar line of sight modelling – to identify the radars likely to detect the Project.
- Marine vessel traffic surveys – two 14-day at sea surveys were undertaken to record shipping activity in the area around the Project.
- Navigational risk assessment – to identify and assess the hazards and risks affecting vessel navigation. This was undertaken alongside other neighbouring projects.
As described in chapter 6 of the PEIR (Methodology), all PEIR chapters provide an overview of the existing environment, followed by an assessment of the potential effects and associated mitigation during all phases of the Project.
Cumulative effects with other plans and projects are also assessed when considered with the Project.
The assessments for most topics concluded that the Project will not result in significant effects, alone or when considering the Project alongside other activities, plans and projects. Certain mitigations identified will need to be agreed and further developed with stakeholders. For topics where significant effects have been identified, further analysis and assessments are being undertaken.
The findings are detailed in each chapter of the PEIR and have been summarised in a Non-Technical Summary, with information on some of the topics here:
Ornithology
The assessment on seabirds during construction includes disturbance and displacement and indirect effects on habitats and prey species, including sensitive species such as the red-throated diver (pictured). Additionally, during the operation and maintenance phases, potential impacts also include collision risk.
No significant adverse effects were identified for the Project alone. This included any risk to collisions with turbines, which is assessed as no greater than minor, and not significant, for all species recorded in flight at the windfarm site. This includes the most sensitive species, such as gannet, kittiwake (pictured), common gull, herring gull, lesser black-backed gull and great black-backed gull.
The cumulative assessment, when including other plans and projects in the area, will be considered in more detail as the EIA progresses and when all data is available.
Socioeconomic, tourism and recreation
Our assessment drew on a range of publicly available statistics for the local study area: Liverpool, Halton, Sefton, Wirral, Copeland, South Lakeland, Barrow-in-Furness, Blackpool, Fylde, Lancaster, West Lancashire, Wyre, Cheshire West and Chester, Denbighshire, and Flintshire, as well as the UK as a whole.
No significant effects on the tourism economy, recreational activities or community assets were identified.
Potential benefits will arise from an increase in expenditure, and a resulting boost for the economy during construction, operation and maintenance of the Project.
There’s potential for the creation of employment opportunities during all phases, in particular during the construction phase of the Project.
Marine mammals
Our work to date has enabled us to identify the most relevant marine mammals in the area, including harbour porpoise (pictured), bottlenose dolphin, common dolphin, Risso’s dolphin, white-beaked dolphin, minke whale, grey seal and harbour seal.
Underwater noise modelling was carried out to better understand the impact of underwater noise effects on marine mammals.
Underwater noise modelling was carried out to better understand the impact of underwater noise effects on marine mammals.
The cumulative assessment, when including other plans and projects in the area, will be considered in more detail as the EIA progresses and when all data is available.
Seascape, Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (SLVIA)
For the assessments, the study area included the English counties of Cumbria, Lancashire and Merseyside; a southern terrestrial area, including the Welsh counties of Flintshire, Denbighshire, Conwy, Gwynedd and the Isle of Anglesey; and a western offshore area, defined by the waters of the Irish Sea and the Isle of Man
The assessments identified that most views of the Project are either distant and/or dominated by existing offshore windfarms. The areas with the most visual effects, which are deemed to be significant, are limited to areas along the Fylde and Sefton coastline.
Although there are localised effects on views from this section of the coast, the effects will only occur during infrequent periods of excellent, long-range visibility, and will not occur during most prevailing conditions.