The Walney Extension Offshore Wind Farm Order 2014

Post construction monitoring E+W

13.—(1) The undertaker must, in discharging condition 10(1)(a), submit details for approval by the MMO in consultation with Natural England of proposed post-construction surveys, including methodologies and timings, and proposed format, content and timings for providing reports on the results. Subject to receipt of specific proposals, it is expected that acceptable post-construction surveys will comprise, in outline—

(a) a survey of any benthic communities/benthos constituting Annex I Habitat inside the area(s) within the Order limits seaward of MHWS in which construction works were carried out;

(b) high resolution swath-bathymetric surveys to assess any changes to bed form morphology, and to ensure that the cables have been buried, to be undertaken as follows—

(i) the first survey shall be undertaken across the entirety of the area within the Order limits seaward of MHWS in which construction works were carried out; and

(ii) any subsequent surveys shall be undertaken across such representative areas within the Order limits seaward of MHWS as may be agreed with the MMO, and such further monitoring as may be agreed with the MMO; and

(c) surveys of the Inter-tidal Area within the Order limits seaward of MHWS in which construction works were carried out, to determine the extent and success of physical and biological recovery following cable installation.

(2) Following the completion of the authorised development, the undertaker must carry out the surveys referred to in sub-paragraph (1) for three years, which may be non-consecutive years, and provide reports in the agreed format in accordance with the agreed timetable, unless otherwise agreed with the MMO following consultation with Natural England.

(3) If a major storm event occurs at any time between the completion of the authorised development and the completion of the third year of surveys required under sub-paragraph (2), the undertaker must carry out a side scan sonar and bathymetry survey within the Order limits seaward of MHWS in which the construction works were carried out, in accordance with such timetable as may be agreed with the MMO following consultation with Natural England.

Commencement Information

I1 Sch. 10 Pt. 2 para. 13 in force at 28.11.2014, see art. 1