Abstract
1.1 Introduction
1.1.1 This clarification note has been prepared in respect of the application for a development consent order (DCO) to the Secretary of State under the Planning Act 2008 (‘the Application’) by SMart Wind Ltd on behalf of Heron Wind Limited, Njord Limited and Vi Aura Limited (the ‘Applicant’) for the Hornsea Project One Offshore Wind Farm (‘the Project’.
1.1.2 The note has been drafted in response to comments from Natural England on the additional information provided by the Applicant on auk displacement at Deadline IV (Appendix W) and Deadline V (Appendix L), and following discussions with Natural England on 28th May 2014.
1.1.3 The Applicant’s existing in-combination displacement assessment (see Appendix W of the Applicant’s response to Deadline IV and Appendix L of the Applicant’s response to Deadline V) is based, to the extent possible, on a quantitative approach. Where a quantitative assessment was undertaken, the results of that assessment were used in the in-combination assessment. Following standard practice the Applicant did not seek to undertake a quantitative displacement assessment for other projects where such an assessment was not provided by the Applicants for those projects. Whilst the Applicant recognises that those projects could contribute to an in-combination effect, the approach to the assessment of them was, of necessity, qualitative.
1.1.4 Nevertheless, Natural England noted that for some sites, for which displacement had not been quantified, that there are other data available (for example on abundance or density) which could be used to infer the likely magnitude of displacement. At Natural England’s request, the Applicant has collated, to the extent possible, these relevant data and estimated the likely magnitude of displacement. The in-combination assessment has been revised accordingly and now includes quantitative information on the magnitude of the contribution of 12 sites that were previously only considered in qualitative terms. 1.1.5 In this note, the Applicant also provides further clarification for the offshore wind farm sites screened in to the assessment based on the Biological Defined Minimum Population Scales (BDMPS) during each season.