The Inspectorate attended an online Steering Group for the Morgan Generation Assets and Mona Offshore Wind Projects. The meeting provided further details on the site selection, baseline survey progress and ornithological Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) assessment methodology. The Inspectorate provided the advice noted below.
• The Inspectorate noted that in previous offshore wind farm examinations there have been extensive discussions on ornithological assessment methodology, including displacement and mortality rates and apportioning figures. It advised that these be agreed with Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and Natural England (NE) as early as possible in pre-application stage to reduce the risk of them leading to potential Examination issues. If agreement cannot be reached, the Inspectorate advised the Applicant to submit alternative versions of the assessment using the parameters preferred by each party as it is probable that this would otherwise be sought during an Examination. • The Inspectorate would expect any impact pathway taken forward to appropriate assessment to be considered in light of conservation objectives, in line with the requirements of the Regulations. However, the Inspectorate accepts, in principle, that the level of detail required may vary depending on the European site/qualifying feature/impact pathway. It is sensible to seek a proportionate approach to the assessment. • The Inspectorate recommends that the Applicant includes within their application a demonstrable agreement with NRW/NE that the ornithological surveys adequately took into account the potential effects of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza on the baseline populations.

Morgan and Mona Steering Group - anon.

Project Update Meeting
Please see attached

BP/EnBW - anon.

How are the cumulative impacts of each wind farm (Morgan, Mona and Morecambe) to be taken into account, if each wind farm is considered separately?
With regard to your query about cumulative impacts, the Applicants for these projects have advised that they are going to undertake environmental impact assessments which will be reported in an environmental statement for each project. The environmental statement for each project will include an assessment of cumulative effects (as they are required to do by the Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017). Each project will therefore have to provide an assessment of cumulative effects with other developments which it could interact with. Advice Note Seventeen on our website explains the general advice the Planning Inspectorate gives on undertaking cumulative effects assessment. The environmental statement for each project will be submitted as part of their applications for Development Consent Orders; if the application is accepted then the effects of each project, including the cumulative effects, will be part of the evidence that the Examining Authority (the panel of Inspector(s)) consider during the Examination of the project before making their recommendation to the Secretary of State. The Applicants for each project and for the Morgan and Morecambe Offshore Wind Farms Transmission Assets have each requested a scoping opinion from the Secretary of State. The scoping opinion provides advice on the topics and assessments which should be reported in the environmental statement. As part of the process of drafting the opinion, applicants submit a scoping report – shipping and navigation and effects on other sea users have been identified as aspects to be assessed in the environmental statements. The Planning Inspectorate which acts on behalf of the Secretary of State, is required to consult various bodies including the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Trinity House, Natural Resources Wales and the Marine Management Organisation and to take their advice into account when drafting the scoping opinion. The advice from these bodies is appended to the scoping opinion. The process the Inspectorate go through when drafting the scoping opinion is described in more detail in Advice Notes Three and Seven on our website. Please note that this is separate from the statutory consultation process which applicants are required to undertake themselves. The environmental statements are required by the EIA Regulations referred to above to be based on the most recent scoping opinion, unless the project is materially different from the project described in the scoping report. You may find it of interest to read the scoping opinions and scoping reports (the scoping opinions may not make much sense unless read in conjunction with the scoping reports).

John Pennington

I am writing to raise a query on the potential examinations for the three offshore wind farm projects being proposed in the Irish Sea - Morgan, Morecambe and Mona. The three projects are currently working on their Navigation Risk Assessments (Hazard Identification workshops are being held next week) and whilst their applications to PINS are still a long way off, I wanted to raise an early concern that (1) the three projects present concerns to safe navigation in the area and (2) I believe that three separate planning examinations would not provide a full representation of the impacts because of the risks they present cumulatively which probably the most important concern for MCA and other navigational stakeholders. Is there scope within the examination/decision-making process for assessing the potential impacts of all three projects in one examination or does it confine us to three examinations?
It is for the Applicants to decide when to submit their applications, therefore with different submission dates and different applicants there is little scope for combined Examinations or hearing sessions. I would suggest you contact the Applicants and raise your concerns with them. As all three projects are in the pre-application stage the MCA have the opportunity to provide clear advice to the Applicants on how to assess cumulative effects robustly.

Maritime and Coastguard Agency - anon.

Project update meeting for Morgan and Morecambe Offshore Wind Farms
Please see attached.

Flotation Energy, Cobra, bp, EnBW - anon.

Project update meeting.
Please see attached.

BP/EnBW - anon.

Project update meeting for Morgan and Mona Offshore Wind Farms
Please see attached

BP/ EnBW - anon.

Morecambe and Morgan consent strategy - Update meeting
Please see attached

Flotation Energy, Cobra, bp, EnBW - anon.

Inception Meeting
Please see attached

bp / EnBW - anon.