2024 - Scoping Report

Manx Utilities/Wardell Armstrong Scoping report and opinion

On the 15^th February 2024 a Pre-Application Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Scoping report was submitted to the Department of the Environment, Food, and Agriculture (DEFA) in relation to the proposed Cair Vie Windfarm development at Earystane. Since submitting this Scoping report Manx Utilities and our contractor, Wardell Armstrong have continued to complete further surveys to update and optimise our designs for the windfarm.

This is often referred to as the scoping stage and scoping is a part of the overall planning process. Scoping ensures the correct information is included in the EIA and the follow up Environmental Statement (ES) which will accompany the Planning Application for public scrutiny and comment.

Although the Island Strategic Plan 2016 sets out clear policies for ‘when’ an EIA is required, it does not set out ‘how’ an EIA should be completed. The requirements for when an EIA are required are set out in the Island Strategic Plan 2016 and states that an onshore windfarm must have an EIA.

The Strategic Plan also states that current practice from England and Wales will be used to address ‘how’ an EIA should be completed and so the EIA will be completed in accordance with the requirements of the Town and Country Planning Act (Environmental Impact Assessment) England and Wales, 2017 regulations.

The Scoping report attempts to identify possible environmental impacts of any development which may be significant and which may require more detailed investigation within the EIA. This informs the drafting of an Environmental Statement for submission with the Planning Application.

The Scoping report also outlines the scope, methodology, and proposed approach of the EIA for assessing any impacts and identifies the stakeholder engagement process.

A Scoping opinion is produced and published by DEFA after consultation and technical input from statutory consultees on environmental issues within their specific areas.

The Scoping opinion is a written opinion clarifying the scope and level of detail to be provided in the Environmental Statement which will accompany the Planning Application. Responses in the Scoping opinion should also refer to the Town and Country Planning Act (Environmental Impact Assessment) England and Wales, 2017 regulations as referral to any other legislation might be considered outside the requirements of the Isle of Man Strategic Plan, 2016.

The Scoping opinion will be available on the IOM GOV website Cair Vie Wind Farm Project Scoping comments.

What happens Next?

The Scoping opinion provides technical input and feedback from statutory consultees on the Scoping report submitted earlier. Once published by DEFA, the Scoping opinion will be reviewed by Manx Utilities and its consultant Wardell Armstrong to ensure any further studies, surveys, technical information and requirements highlighted in the Scoping opinion are included in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) where applicable.

The EIA will continue to progress for completion in May 2025, and will inform an Environmental Statement (ES) which will outline all significant environmental impacts and how these will be mitigated within the design of the Cair Vie windfarm at Earystane. The ES will then be submitted with the Planning Application for public scrutiny and comment as part of the planning process.

1. Introduction
2. Site Description
3. Development Description
4. Proposed Scope of the Environmental Statement
5. Terrestrial Ecology
6. Ornithology
7. Marine Ecology
8. Landscape and Visual
9. Archaeology and Heritage
10. Access, Traffic and Transport
11. Noise and Vibration_Redacted
12. Air Quality
13. Ground Conditions
14. Water Environment
15. Climate Change and Resilience
16. Materials and Waste
17. Socio-Economics
18. Human Health
19. Aviation
20. Electro-Magnetic Interference and Telecommunications
21. Shadow Flicker
22. Summary
23. Appendix 2.1 Site Location Plan
24. Appendix 3.1 Indicative Wind Turbine Layout Plan
25. Appendix 3.2 Proposed Transport Routes Plan
26. Appendix 5.1 Preliminary Ecological Appraisal Report_Redacted
27. Appendix 7.1 Marine Ecology Reference List
28. Appendix 8.1 Landscape Character Plan
29. Appendix 9.1 Known Heritage Assets Plan
30. Appendix 13.1 Phase 1 Desk Study Appendices_Redacted
31. Appendix 13.1 Phase 1 Desk Study Drawings
32. Appendix 13.1 Phase 1 Desk Study Report_Redacted
33. Appendix 14.1 Water Environment Figures