Dogger Bank Wind Farm

The Environmental Impact Assessment predicted negligible to minor adverse (i.e. non-significant) residual impacts for the vast majority of impacts that were identified in relation to the offshore assessment for the Dogger Bank Project. The potential for moderate adverse residual impacts (identified as significant in line with the assessment methodology) was identified in relation to marine and coastal ornithology, commercial fisheries, and seascape and visual character.

• Marine Physical Processes - Significant effects on waves and tidal currents were not anticipated. An increase in suspended sediment concentration and sediment deposition will be temporary. There will be no effect on sediment transport from linear cable protection.
• Marine Water and Sediment Quality - Impacts during all phases, including an increase in suspended sediments and the potential re-suspension of contaminants, will be temporary and of low magnitude, leading to no significant residual impacts. The potential for pollution from the accidental spillage of chemicals, fuels or oil during the development was also considered and identified as low risk. Control measures will be in place to minimise the risk of a spill.
• Marine and Coastal Ornithology - During construction (and decommissioning), the key impacts are disturbance and displacement. These are predominantly short-term and reversible impacts, which are not considered to be significant. During operation key impacts include: disturbance and displacement; barrier effect on breeding seabird and migratory wintering or passage bird populations; and collision risk. However, these are also not predicted to be significant for Dogger Bank Creyke Beck. Some impacts do become significant when considered cumulatively with other projects. Mitigation measures to reduce and minimise these impacts include: the western edge of Dogger Bank Creyke Beck B was moved to the east, away from the high-density seabird feeding area associated with sandeel; a reduction in the maximum number of turbines per project from 300 to 200 (since the EIA this has been reduced further); and an associated increase in the minimum lower blade tip height (from 22m to 26m) above highest astronomical tide.
• Marine and Intertidal Ecology - Temporary disturbance of existing habitats and increases in suspended sediment levels was predicted to occur during the construction phase, with some permanent loss of habitat where infrastructure is fixed in place during operation. Impacts were not considered to be significant, since the areas of existing habitats that may be affected represent only a small proportion of similar seabed habitats in the wider region, and are generally of low sensitivity and high recoverability. Potential impacts on an area of Mytilus habitat identified in the nearshore section of the export cable corridor (if confirmed during pre-construction surveys) will be avoided through micro-siting of the export cables.
• Fish and Shellfish Ecology - Fish and shellfish were predicted to be affected through temporary disturbance during construction, and permanent loss of habitat during operation. Potential impacts relating to noise and electromagnetic fields were been assessed. No significant residual impacts were identified for fish and shellfish ecology. The adoption of soft start piling will allow fish to move away from the noise source, whilst the western boundary of the development was modified in order to reduce the loss of habitat for the commercially important sandeel.
• Marine Mammals - The key impacts for marine mammals are the potential for hearing injury and/or behavioural disturbance (such as displacement from a feeding area) during construction. The risk of causing hearing injury is mitigated through the use of a Marine Mammal Mitigation Protocol, which will aim to reduce the exposure of marine mammals to sources of noise. Behavioural disturbance impacts were not assessed as being significant for Dogger Bank.

During construction of the wind farm, Dogger Bank aims to increase and expand STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths) provision in local communities with bespoke programmes in each key area (East Riding of Yorkshire, South Tyneside, Redcar and Cleveland). Focus will be on the coastal communities nearest to the wind farm construction and operational bases.