All proposed UK wind farm developments are subject to the legislative requirement of conducting an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

Scira conducted its EIA for the Sheringham Shoal Offshore Wind Farm over a two year period and this helped to produce a functional framework to guide the project through to the consenting phase.

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

An EIA is a tool for systematically examining and assessing the potential impacts and effects that a development may have on the environment. After an EIA has been conducted an Environmental Statement is issued, which reports on the findings of the assessment and also contains a:

• Description of the development proposal, including any alternatives considered;

• Description of the existing environment at the site and its environs;

• Prediction of potential impacts on the existing human, physical and natural environment at the site and assessment of subsequent effects;

• Description of mitigation measures to avoid or reduce such effects;

• Description of monitoring requirements; and

• A Non Technical Summary, click here to download

Scira submitted its Environmental Statement for the Sheringham Shoal Offshore Wind Farm, with the relevant planning applications, in May 2006.

The project is now awaiting consent.