The Walney Extension Offshore Wind Farm Order 2014

Pre-construction surveying and monitoring

12.—(1) The undertaker must, in discharging condition 11(1)(a) submit details for approval by the MMO in consultation with Natural England of proposed pre-construction surveys, including methodologies and timings, and a proposed format and content for a pre-construction baseline report at least 4 months prior to surveys commencing.

(2) The pre-construction surveys referred to in sub-paragraph (1) must unless otherwise agreed with the MMO have due regard to the need to undertake—

(a) surveys to determine the location, extent and composition of any benthic habitats of conservation, ecological and/or economic importance (including Annex I Habitat) inside the area(s) within the Order limits seaward of MHWS in which it is proposed to carry out construction works;

(b) a high resolution swath-bathymetry survey and side-scan sonar survey of the areas within the Order limits seaward of MHWS in which it is proposed to carry out construction works, including a 500 metre buffer area around the site of each work inclusive of seabed anomalies or sites of historic or archaeological interest that lie within that 500 metre buffer; and

(c) debris surveys, including a side scan sonar survey, across the area(s) within the Order limits seaward of MHWS in which it is proposed to carry out construction works.

(3) The undertaker must carry out the surveys agreed under sub-paragraph (1) and provide the baseline report to the MMO in the agreed format in accordance with the agreed timetable, unless otherwise agreed by the MMO.

(4) The undertaker must not commence construction until the baseline report has been agreed by the MMO.