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The Government have announced that plans to accelerate the development of offshore wind power will be accompanied by measures to reduce harmful underwater ...
The Government plans to accelerate offshore wind power development.
Developers will be required to demonstrate efforts to reduce underwater noise from pile driving and seabed clearance.
A public consultation on setting a future noise limit for offshore wind construction will be undertaken.
Where sites contain unexploded ordnance, operators are expected to use low-noise disposal methods.
Noisy detonations for ordnance disposal will be a last resort.
The measures are intended to prevent construction delays.
The Government has partnered with The Crown Estate’s Offshore Wind Evidence and Change programme.
The government is testing and developing new, quieter technologies for bomb clearance.
External resources
The Government have announced that plans to accelerate the development of offshore wind power will be accompanied by measures to reduce harmful underwater noise. Developers will be required to demonstrate they are making efforts to reduce underwater noise from pile driving and seabed clearance during the installation of offshore wind turbines. A public consultation on setting a future noise limit for offshore wind construction will be undertaken. Where development sites contain unexploded ordnance from the First and Second World Wars operators are expected to use low-noise disposal methods, with noisy detonations a last resort. As well as minimising the harmful effects on marine life, the measures are intended to prevent construction delays caused by breaches in noise thresholds, and accelerate the building of offshore wind projects planned for 2025 onwards. The government has partnered with The Crown Estate’s Offshore Wind Evidence and Change programme and representatives from the explosives and offshore wind industries to test and develop new, quieter technologies for bomb clearance, and pilot proposed noise limits during offshore wind construction. It was also stated that a public consultation on setting a future noise limit for offshore wind construction is anticipated, with no timeline for this given.
A new Bill proposing that fireworks noise levels are restricted was introduced by Yasim Qureshi, Labour MP for Bolton South and Walkden, on December 3rd.
The Home Office has issued proposals to relax licensing hours in England and Wales, if England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland reach the semi finals of the world cup in July 2026.
A UK strategy for the conservation of whales and dolphins (cetaceans) - has been published. It acknowledges that underwater noise sits alongside climate change and bycatch is a threat impacting these
The Scottish Government have opened a consultation on proposed changes to the Environmental Noise (Scotland) Regulations 2006.
A report commissioned by the Department for Business and Industrial Strategy to look at assessment of noise from onshore wind farms is now published.
The Welsh Government are consulting on changes to permitted development rights including air source heat pumps(ASHP).
As part of their ongoing enquiry into the impact of airport expansion on climate and nature targets, the Environmental Audit Committee will be taking oral evidence tomorrow - Wednesday May 14th.
The Government are seeking views on proposals for changes to the planning process for national infrastructure projects.
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