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Decision making process
Name of the case study
North Hoyle Offshore wind farm
Decision making process
A number of decisions relating to the wind farm were made at the political level, these were due to consent being required by different Government bodies for different parts of the development. Consent was applied for/received from:
• Under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989, application submitted for consent to the Department of Trade and Industry for North Hoyle Offshore Wind Farm.
• Planning Application to Denbighshire County Council.
• Applications for marine consents and onshore cabling works were submitted to DEFRA, Department for Transport (Under section 34 of the Coast Protection Act 1949 consent required from the Department for Transport for works under or over the seashore lying below the level of mean high water spring), Local Government and the Regions, and the Environment Agency.
• License granted from NAW (administered on behalf of DEFRA) under the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 for the deposit of articles/materials in the sea/tidal waters.
• Consent granted for North Hoyle Offshore Wind Farm from Brian Wilson, Minister for Energy.
• Minister for Energy gave a £10 million share of funds available under the Capital Grant scheme available for offshore wind energy projects, to North Hoyle Offshore Wind Farm as it’s a pioneering project.
Name of tool
Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) Seascape Assessment
Decision making process - tools in decision-making process
As a result of the application of tools at North Hoyle, a major modification to future National Wind Power offshore wind farms is that they will be located 10 km from shore as opposed to 7 km at North Hoyle.
Name of tool
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA);
Decision making process - tools in decision-making process
The EIA was, as required by law,carried out prior to starting the project, and found that with regard to the physical environment, (seascape and visual environment, and the human environment) there would be no significant adverse effects as a result of the development of North Hoyle Offshore Wind Farm. This therefore provided support for the development of the Wind Farm.
There are no quantitative or qualitative benchmarks or goals defined. The findings of the tool provided support for the development of the wind farm.
Name of tool
Public participation including visual assessment (photo montage)
Decision making process - tools in decision-making process
Public consultation began at the very outset of the project, two years before the EIA was undertaken.
Studies have not been undertaken to assess the impact of the community consultation, but it is believed that by involving the public support of the project was increased.
The aim of this tool was to inform the local community of the project, and keep them up to date as the project progressed, as well as receive feedback on the development.
Name of tool
Socio-economic Impact Assessment (SEIA);
Decision making process - tools in decision-making process
The assessment was completed around the same time as the EIA – in the beginning stages of the project, prior to consent being sought from the Government Departments and Planning consent being applied for. The SEIA concluded that the offshore wind farm development would provide a boost to the surrounding economy. The SEIA predicted that 53 full time jobs would be created for the development of the turbines and that operating the wind farm would require 5 full time staff from the local labour market. Wider socio-economic impacts predicted include:
• Stimulating the development of a cohesive cluster of renewable energy businesses in Wales with other proposed wind farms.
• Improvements to local infrastructure and facilities such as a jetty and harbour area for commercial and leisure craft.
• The wind farm will draw visitors who will be provided with information about renewable energy and wind farms through a series of interpretation and information boards.
• 70% of businesses surveyed believe that on balance the wind farm would have a positive effect on the local economy, with only 6% feeling that the effect would be negative.
These predicted impacts can be considered goals for the project. The findings of the tool support provide for the development of the wind farm.
Decision making process - how was the information for the dmp disseminated
The comprehensive public consultation and participation process ensured that information on the decision making process was disseminated on a regular basis. This occurred through road shows, newsletters and a website, http://www.natwindpower.co.uk/northhoyle/northhoyle.htm, which was updated with information concerning the development of the project.
Decision making process - how was the public involved
The public were consulted and informed two years prior to the environmental impact assessment. Public participation involved:
• Roadshows held in local towns to communicate proposals to the public;
• Newsletters sent out to 30,000 households in local communities within view of North Hoyle,
• The provision of a website to provide information,
• Public perception studies were undertaken supported by the use of photo montages of the development, to assist people in envisaging the proposed development;
• Councillors were informed and provided with boat trips to the site;
• Information was presented to Community groups such as the Women’s Institute, old age pensioner groups and other local organisations such as Royal National Lifeboat Institution and Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
Decision making process - was there public discussion over the project
What tools were used to assess sustainability?
Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) Seascape Assessment
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA);
Public participation including visual assessment (photo montage)
Socio-economic Impact Assessment (SEIA);
More information