The Hornsea Four Offshore Wind Farm Order 2023

Construction monitoring

18.—(1) The undertaker must in discharging condition 13(1)(f) for each stage of construction submit a construction monitoring plan or plans for that stage in accordance with an outline marine monitoring plan for written approval by the MMO in consultation with the relevant statutory nature conservation body, which must include details of any proposed construction monitoring, including methodologies and timings, and a proposed format, content and timings for providing reports on the results. The survey proposals must be in accordance with the principles set out in the outline marine monitoring plan and must specify each survey’s objectives and explain how it will assist in either informing a useful and valid comparison with the pre-construction position and/or will enable the validation or otherwise of key predictions in the environmental statement.

(2) Subject to receipt from the undertaker of specific proposals pursuant to this condition the construction monitoring plan must include in outline details of—

(a) vessel traffic monitoring by automatic identification system for the duration of the construction period, with provision for a report to be submitted to the MMO, Trinity House, and the MCA annually during the construction period for the authorised development; and

(b) where piled foundations are to be employed, unless otherwise agreed by the MMO in writing, details of proposed monitoring of the noise generated by the installation of the first four piled foundations of each piled foundation type to be constructed collectively under this licence and the licence granted under Schedule 11 of the Order.

(3) The results of the initial noise measurements monitored in accordance with sub-paragraph 18(2)(b) must be provided in writing to the MMO within six weeks of the installation (unless otherwise agreed) of the first four piled foundations of each piled foundation type. The assessment of this report by the MMO will determine whether any further noise monitoring is required. If, in the opinion of the MMO in consultation with the statutory nature conservation body, the assessment shows impacts significantly in excess to those assessed in the environmental statement and there has been a failure of the mitigations set out in the marine mammal mitigation protocol, all piling activity must cease until an update to the marine mammal mitigation protocol and further monitoring requirements have been agreed.

(4) The undertaker must carry out the surveys specified within the construction monitoring plan or plans in accordance with that plan or plans, including any further noise monitoring required in writing by the MMO under condition 18(3) unless otherwise agreed in writing by the MMO in consultation with the relevant statutory nature conservation body.