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Wildlife and environment

To understand the existing environment at its proposed offshore wind park, cable corridor and the onshore substation, Navitus Bay gathered data from a wide range of sources. These include statutory bodies, academic organisations, local authorities, conservation and other relevant interest groups. This knowledge has been further enhanced and supplemented through comprehensive field-based surveys, targeting both the project site and surroundings areas.

Navitus Bay’s Environmental Impact Assessment will explore a comprehensive range of topics.

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Offshore topics include:

  • Fish and Shellfish Ecology
  • Marine Mammals and Megafauna
  • Ornithology
  • Commercial Fisheries
  • Shipping and Navigation

Onshore topics include:

  • Water Environment
  • Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology
  • Ornithology
  • Archaeology and Cultural Heritage
  • Landscape and Visual

Seascape, Landscape and Visuals

Navitus Bay has consulted with seventeen key stakeholders and interested parties, including nine planning authorities and eight organisations responsible for managing areas of nationally protected landscape. This consultation has sought to agree the assessment methodology and study area for the Seascape and Landscape Visual Impact Assessment (SLVIA), which will look at the potential visual impacts of the wind park.

The SLVIA is currently ongoing, and some of the photomontages that will be used in this process can be found here. From the consultation work, baseline studies have identified and defined existing seascape and landscape character environments, the range of nationally protected landscapes and the full range of visual receptor groups.

Throughout this project, Navitus Bay has sought to strike a balance between the community's preferred location for the wind park and what is technically feasible. In response to detailed feedback and discussions with statutory consultees and local communities in December 2012, Navitus Bay moved the development boundary further away from Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. As well as reducing potential visual impact, this will also protect navigational safety for vessels entering the Solent. Following extensive community feedback, a second boundary change was announced in February 2014. The northernmost part of the development – the ‘top triangle’ has been removed in order to reduce the visual impact of Navitus Bay from all locations along the coast in Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

See project visuals.

Did you know?
The Government has not set fixed guidelines as to how close offshore wind farms can be built to the shoreline. Applications are treated on a case by case basis with due consideration given to detailed site-specific information and analysis.

Ornithology

Over a period of two years bird surveys have been undertaken to inform the Environmental Impact Assessment. These surveys were carried out by boat and by plane on a monthly basis from December 2009 to November 2011. Surveys included boat-based surveys, aerial surveys and land-based migration monitoring. Land based migration surveys were carried out at St Catherine's Point, Durlston Head and Peveril Point. These were scheduled to match boat-based surveys at appropriate times of the year to corroborate data gathered offshore with these onshore and coastal records.

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  • Four months of aerial surveys (November 2009 – February 2010) were conducted using high definition video aerial surveys conducted by HiDef as part of The Crown Estate’s enabling actions
  • A further three months (January – March 2011) were surveyed by HiDef at the request of Statutory Nature Conservation Agencies (SNCAs)
  • Additional boat-based and land-based migration specific surveys were also conducted during spring and autumn 2011

Overall, bird abundance within and through the proposed wind park is considered low. Moreover, no nationally important numbers of birds occur, although regionally important numbers of guillemots and razorbills have been recorded during migration periods.

Navitus Bay has provided Natural England and RSPB with a baseline report for bird populations and movement patterns in connection with the project. The findings will facilitate consultation, inform any further requirements for EIA and help to develop potential mitigation where necesary. In addition, the report will contribute to the screening requirements for the Habitats Regulation Assessment (HRA) process. The assessment is examining the area for any sensitive species and habitats of conservation importance that are likely to be affected in the vicinity of the wind park.

Did you know?
Notable onshore species found during the surveys included the crossbill, nightjar, skylark, song thrush, yellow wagtail, willow warbler, linnet, Berwick’s swan, hen harrier and yellowhammer.

FISH AND SHELLFISH ECOLOGY

In order to determine the number and type of fish and shellfish in the proposed area a wide range of different survey techniques were used, including seabed grab sampling devices and underwater video cameras. Survey methodologies were discussed formally with Natural England and Cefas who agreed they were appropriate.

The assessment examined the area for any sensitive species and habitats of conservation importance that are likely to be affected in the vicinity of the wind park. To date, the findings show habitats and species are characteristic of the region.

The findings are currently being discussed with the statutory authorities.

MARINE MAMMALS AND MEGAFAUNA

To understand marine mammal movements in the region, Navitus Bay deployed an acoustic monitoring system to detect sea mammals at strategic locations. The strategic locations included the offshore development area and Swanage Bay, as agreed in consultation with Natural England.

Further observations have been obtained through boat-based and aerial surveys, which took place over a two year period from December 2009 to November 2011. These observations also included long term sighting records collected by local interest groups. Before surveys were undertaken the methodologies were discussed formally with Natural England, who agreed they were appropriate.

During the dedicated field surveys five species of marine mammals (Harbour Porpoise, Bottlenose Dolphin, Common Dolphin, Grey Seal and Common Seal) were identified and thought likely to be present within the proposed off shore development area.

Low sightings across this area and surrounding localities are considered to be characteristic of this south coast region. Long term sighting records are currently being analysed to determine if there is the potential for important species to be affected by the wind park development.

ONSHORE ECOLOGY

Between 2011 and 2012 a significant number of ecological surveys were undertaken to identify the presence of key flora and fauna within the study area for the proposed cable route and substation. Navitus Bay has undertaken a significant number of bat surveys over the cable route, including visual surveys, using bat detectors and looking for roosts which involved tree climbing. Nine different species were identified foraging around the cable route. No bat roosts have been identified that would be directly impacted by the cable route.

  • Surveys for reptiles involved the laying of artificial refugia (e.g. carpet tiles or metal sheets) in likely habitat, which were then periodically checked for the presence of any reptile species. These surveys were primarily focused on heathland habitats in the northern section of the route. As well as a number of common reptile species including adder, slow worm and common lizard, we have found the rarer sand lizard at two sites.
  • Over 110 dormouse boxes and 440 survey tubes have been installed along the cable route and are regularly checked for any nesting dormice. To date, no dormice have been found.
  • 42 ponds have been surveyed within 250m of the cable route and substation site. No great crested newts have been found.
  • Suitable watercourses within 100m either side of the cable route were surveyed. No otters or water voles were found.
  • Badger surveys were undertaken, identifying setts within 100m of the cable route. A number of setts have been identified in proximity to the cable route, although only one main sett and 15 outlier setts would be directly affected.

A number of desktop studies of environmentally designated sites within the study area have also been undertaken. These included designations such as Special Protection Areas, Sites of Special Scientific Interest and Sites of Nature Conservation Importance. Environmentally designated sites crossed by the cable route have been reduced and include a small number of statutory sites and county wildlife sites. During the substation site search all potential locations on designated sites were discounted.

ARCHAEOLOGY AND CULTURAL HERITAGE

Extensive geophysical surveys of the seabed and its topography, geological nature and features such as sand waves and bedrock outcrops were undertaken within the proposed offshore development area. The data collected has been used to map debris potentially associated with marine archaeology, such as unexploded ordnance, shipwrecks and aircraft remains.

The geology of the wind park suggests that there is little potential for the survival of prehistoric archaeological material dating to periods of lower sea levels; a time when the seabed would have been exposed as land. There are over eighteen recorded wrecks within the boundary of the wind park and some of these are popular dive and angling sites.

Because the south coast was a forward base for military activity during World War II, there is a high risk of encountering aircraft crash sites. Should any such sites be discovered they would automatically be designated under the Protection of Military Remains Act. Potential impacts to marine archaeology are not considered significant, as recognised mitigation protocols developed by English Heritage will be enforced to ensure appropriate protection.

 

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