Natural Power Consultants

Natural Power Consultants was appointed by AQUIND Limited during the early stages of the AQUIND Interconnector project to lead marine cable route feasibility, environmental impact assessment management, and consenting support across both the UK and French planning processes. The scope spanned optimisation of the marine cable route across the English Channel, co-ordination of scoping exercises and scoping reports, and production of the Preliminary Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) chapters and the final EIA documentation supporting the UK Development Consent Order application (Planning Inspectorate ref EN020022) and the parallel French environmental authorisation. Natural Power performed the Habitats Regulation Assessment (HRA), Water Framework Directive assessment, and marine conservation zone assessment, undertook marine ecology surveys, and integrated environmental data with geophysical survey data (collected by MMT) to produce habitat maps. The firm also acted as marine advisor during public consultations in both countries and led negotiations on marine aspects. Marine coordination support to AQUIND's ground investigation programme included European Protected Species risk assessments, voluntary notifications, Notices to Mariners, and provision of a Fisheries Liaison Officer and marine mammal mitigation services. UK and French teams worked jointly throughout the application process to meet timeframes agreed with the Planning Inspectorate and the French authorities.