Regulatory Other

On 3 May 2024, the Scottish Ministers, acting through the Marine Directorate – Licensing Operations Team, adopted an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Scoping Opinion for the Broadshore Hub Wind Farm Development Areas, which include the Scaraben Wind Farm Development Area (Scaraben WFDA). This decision followed receipt of a Scoping Report on 8 January 2024 from Broadshore Offshore Wind Farm Limited, Sinclair Offshore Wind Farm Limited and Scaraben Offshore Wind Farm Limited (collectively, “the Developers”). The Ministers determined that the Scoping Report was sufficient and compliant with the Electricity Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2017 and the Marine Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2007, together referred to as the EIA Regulations. The adopted Scoping Opinion responds formally to the Developers’ scoping request and is to be read alongside the Scoping Report. In adopting the Scoping Opinion, the Scottish Ministers took into account the specific characteristics, locations, and technical capacities of the Broadshore, Sinclair and Scaraben WFDAs, as well as likely environmental impacts and consultation responses received during the scoping process. The Scoping Opinion sets out the scope of environmental impacts to be assessed and the methods to be used in the EIA Report for the Proposed Developments, thereby framing the subsequent consent applications under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 and for marine licences under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009. The Ministers also advise that if applications are not submitted within 12 months of the Scoping Opinion date, the Developers should seek further advice on its continued validity.