Other Permit Awarded

On 12 July 2022, Marine Scotland granted a European Protected Species (EPS) Licence (ID: EPS-00009843, application reference 00009843) for geophysical surveys associated with the MachairWind Offshore Windfarm, located northwest of Islay. The licence was issued under the “Renewables - Wind” application type at the Licence stage, following an application submitted on 20 May 2022 by MachairWind Ltd., which is also named as the licence holder. The licence authorises a defined programme of geophysical survey activity required to support the early development of the MachairWind project within the ScotWind W1 area. The licence commencement date was set as 13 July 2022, one day after the grant date, with an expiry date of 12 July 2023, providing a one‑year window for the permitted survey works to be undertaken. The decision and associated documentation are recorded on the Marine Scotland online portal, which links the EPS licence explicitly to the MachairWind project (Scotwind W1). This permit represents a key regulatory step, enabling MachairWind Ltd. to proceed with regulated offshore survey activities that are necessary to inform project design and consenting. With this EPS licence in place for the specified period, the developer is formally authorised to conduct its geophysical investigations under the conditions set by Marine Scotland.