Offshore Wind Power Limited Public Notice Electricity Act 1989

Further to the notice that Offshore Wind Power Limited (OWPL), registered under company registration SC605260 at Clava House, Cradlehall Business Park, Inverness, United Kingdom, IV2 5GH, has applied to the Scottish Ministers for:

• consent under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989;
• declaration under section 36A of the Electricity Act 1989; and
• marine licences under section 20 of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 and section 65 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009.

to construct and operate an offshore windfarm (including associated offshore transmission infrastructure) located within the N1 Plan Option (identified in the Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy), approximately 28 km west of Hoy, Orkney and 23 km north from Strathy Point, Caithness with a maximum area of 657 km2 (central latitude and longitude co-ordinates: 58° 54’ 55.686” N., 004° 11’ 34.532” W (WGS84)). The installed capacity of the proposed generating station would be approximately 2000 MW comprising of up to 125 turbines with a maximum rotor tip height of 359.52 metres above Lowest Astronomical Tide.

This proposed development is subject to environmental impact assessment (“EIA”) under the above Regulations.

Notice is hereby given that OWPL has submitted additional information relative to the above EIA application to the Scottish Ministers. This includes information relating to benthic ecology, fish and shellfish ecology, ornithology (including derogation case and compensation plans), marine mammals, commercial fisheries, shipping and navigation, marine archaeology and cultural heritage, seascape, landscape and visual impact assessment and onshore traffic and transport (from offshore activities).

Copies of the additional information are available for public inspection in person, free of charge, during normal office/opening hours at:

• Thurso Library – Davidson’s Lane, Thurso, KW14 7AF (open Monday and Wednesday, 10am – 6pm, Tuesday and Friday, 10am – 8pm, Thursday and Saturday, 10am – 1pm).
• Bettyhill Library – Naver Teleservice Centre, Bettyhill, KW14 7SS (open Monday to Friday 9am-12.30pm)
• Bettyhill Hotel – A836, Bettyhill, KW14 7SP (open Monday to Sunday 3pm – 10.30pm) [Note the Bettyhill Hotel closes for the season on the 1st of December]
• The Highland Council Headquarters – Glenurquhart Road, Inverness, IV3 5NX (open Monday to Friday, 8am – 4pm)
• Orkney Library & Archive – 44 Junction Road, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1AG (open Monday to Thursday, 10am – 6pm, Friday to Saturday, 10am – 5pm)
• The Stromness Library – 2-12 Victoria Street, Stromness, Orkney, KW16 3AA (open Monday to Friday, 10am – 4pm, Saturday, 12pm – 3pm)
• Xodus Group – 8 Garson Place, Stromness, Orkney, KW16 3EE (open Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm)
• West of Orkney Windfarm – 32 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh, EH2 4ET (open Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm)

The additional information can also be viewed online at https://marine.gov.scot/ml/west-orkney-wind-farm and https://www.westoforkney.com/. Copies of the additional information may also be obtained from OWPL (Tel 0787 524 5015) at a charge of £350 for a hard copy and £10 for CD/USB stick (including post and packaging).

Any representations should be made to the Scottish Ministers in writing by email to: MD.MarineRenewables@gov.scot or by post to The Scottish Government, Marine Directorate – Licensing Operations Team, Marine Laboratory, 375 Victoria Road, Aberdeen, AB11 9DB, identifying the proposed development and specifying grounds for the representation, not later than 3rd December 2024. The Scottish Ministers may however consider representations received after this date. Representations should be dated and should clearly state the name (in block capitals) and the email or postal address of those making representation.

Any subsequent submission of additional information by OWPL to the Scottish Ministers will be publicised in a similar manner to this, including publication on the above websites and in a further public notice. Representations relative to such information should be made on the same basis as detailed above.

Where the Scottish Ministers decide to exercise their discretion to do so, the Scottish Ministers may cause a Public Local Inquiry (“PLI”) to be held.

Having considered the application/s and the above legislation together with any representations received, the Scottish Ministers may:-

• Consent to the proposed development, with or without conditions attached; or

• Reject the proposed development.

All previous representations received in relation to this development will be considered.

Fair Processing Notice

The Scottish Government’s Marine Directorate – Licensing Operations Team (“MD-LOT”) determines applications for marine licences under the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 and the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 and section 36 consents under The Electricity Act 1989. During the consultation process any person having an interest in the outcome of the application may make representation to MD-LOT. The representation may contain personal information, for example a name or address. This representation will only be used for the purpose of determining an application and will be stored securely in the Scottish Government’s official corporate record. Representations will be shared with the applicant and/ or agent acting on behalf of the applicant, any people or organisations that we consult in relation to the application, the Directorate of Planning and Environmental Appeals should the Scottish Ministers call a PLI and, where necessary, be published online, however personal information will be removed before sharing or publishing.

A full privacy notice can be found at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/marine-licensing-and-consenting-privacy-notice/. If you are unable to access this, or you have any queries or concerns about how your personal information will be handled, contact MD-LOT at: MD.MarineRenewables@gov.scot or MD-LOT, Marine Laboratory, 375 Victoria Road, Aberdeen, AB11 9DB.

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