Chamber and committees

We intend to publish the final Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy (“the Plan”) later today, in line with the commitments we set out in the Programme for Government. It will be available to view on the Scottish Government website from today here https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781800042421 .

The plan was informed by extensive stakeholder consultation which saw over 400 responses and well-attended events at 17 coastal communities right across Scotland. We would like to thank all of those who took the time to engage with us. This engagement has been invaluable in producing a framework which we believe is as ambitious as it is balanced. For example we very much appreciated the input of many fisheries and environmental stakeholders, and of community interests. Their views have helped shaped a plan which takes account of the wide range of interests and provides a framework for development designed to maximise the benefits to Scotland. The Plan also outlines further measures and requirements in areas where there is more to be done to understand the impact on the marine environment and it includes a fully inclusive and robust approach to ongoing review, to ensure that it can take into consideration new evidence and other developments going forward.

Scotland has an excellent reputation for offshore wind expertise and is recognised as having one of the best wind regimes anywhere in the world. The Plan presents a vision for the continued development of this valuable resource, whilst seeking to mitigate impacts on other marine users and interests. In doing so it will form a key part of our key strategic aims to deliver a Blue Economy Action Plan and chart a green recovery from Covid-19, helping us to achieve our statutory commitment to be a net zero society by 2045.