The project requires an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to be undertaken and this will be documented within the Environmental Statement (ES) which will accompany our application to the Planning Inspectorate. The EIA process ensures that the potential significant environmental effects of the project are identified, assessed and managed.

For use during the community consultation period we prepared a Community Consultation Document which set out the details of the project and a review of the likely potential impacts and benefits of the project. Detailed within this document is Preliminary Environmental Information which describes potential significant environmental impacts.

We consulted specifically on issues surrounding construction methodology and timings for both onshore and offshore elements and potential mitigations where impact could occur.

Potential impacts and benefits of the project

It is anticipated that potential impacts and benefits of the project may include:

• temporary impacts offshore during construction and decommissioning, including disturbance to other sea users and the seabed, noise and visual impacts
• offshore impacts during the operation of the wind farm, including exclusion of certain activities within the wind farm, visual impacts and effects on marine birds
• temporary disturbance onshore during construction to users of the beach and Public Rights of Way, traffic, visual, noise and ecology
• onshore impacts during operation, including visual impact of the substationand to chalk grassland on certain sections of the cable route
• benefits, include the creation of jobs during construction and operation, contribution to reducing carbon dioxide emissions and securing energy supplies.