UK Energy Secretary Grant Shapps (pictured) has outlined a package of measures aimed at speeding up the offshore wind consenting process whilst also protecting the marine environment.
He has proposed a total of five actions as part of a policy statement on its offshore wind environmental improvement package which was published today by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).
These measures include developing regulations and guidance to streamline Habitats Regulations Assessment and Marine Conservation Zone Assessment processes as well as implementing a marine recovery fund for the delivery of environmental compensation measures.
Shapps has also proposed introducing an agreed list of approved compensatory measures for offshore wind developers to implement on their projects as and when required.
These three actions will require primary legislation, which will be sought through government amendments to the Energy Bill at the Lords Committee Stage later this year.
The remaining actions include the introduction of environmental standards for the development of offshore wind as well as the establishment of a strategic monitoring programme to be used to better understand the UK’s marine environment.
BEIS said it will explore the “most effective mechanism” to implement a strategic monitoring system and is in the process of developing Offshore Wind Environmental Standards, which will be introduced as part of the National Policy Statement designated under the Planning Act 2008.