First Flight Wind Sets Up Advisory Working Groups

FIRST Flight Wind, the consortium selected to develop Northern Ireland’s first offshore wind farm off the Co. Down coast, has established six technical advisory working groups.

Each of these working groups, focussing on a specific topic area, will provide a constructive forum for the discussion of issues and exchange of information as part of the overall environmental impact assessment of the proposed project.

Four of the working groups met for the first time recently, focussing on the following areas: marine ecology; seascape, landscape and visual impact; socio-economics and tourism; and shipping and navigation.

The groups will comprise statutory bodies, local councils, relevant associations and organisations and individual specialists and will meet every six months. The two remaining working groups will cover commercial fisheries and the arrangements for grid connection and have already met this year.

Dr Carolyn Heeps, Project Development Manager of First Flight Wind said:xa0“Our overall aim is to design a project that can be a positive asset to the local area and Northern Ireland. To achieve this we need to undertake a robust and comprehensive assessment of the potential impacts of the project.

“These groups will help to ensure that all relevant issues will be raised for inclusion within the assessment process. I would like to thank all those who are participating for their valuable input and contribution.”

First Flight Windxa0is a consortium comprising B9 Energy, DONG Energy and RES.

The following organisations were invited to participate in the working groups:

Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute *xa0Ards Borough Councilu2028 * Banbridge District Council * u2028Belfast Metropolitan Collegeu2028 * British Marine Aggregates Producer’s Associationu2028 * British Trust for Ornithologyxa0u2028Chamber of Shipping * u2028Commissioner of Irish Lightsu2028 * Copeland Bird Observatoryu2028 * Council for Nature Conservation & Countrysideu2028 * The Crown Estateu2028Cruising Associationu2028Department for Transport (UK)u2028 * Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport (Ireland)u2028Department of Agriculture & Rural Development * (Loughs Agency)u2028Department of Enterprise, Trade & Investmentu2028 * Department of the Environment (NIEA)u2028 * Department of Regional Developmentu2028 * Down District Council * u2028Ecological Surveys and Impact Assessment *u2028Greenore Port Authorityu2028* Invest NIu2028 * Irish Cruising xa0* Clubu2028Irish Sailing Associationu2028 * Irish Sea Anglers Federationu2028 * Irish Whale and Dolphin Groupu2028 * Kilkeel Development Associationu2028 * Lisburn City Council *xa0Louth County Councilu2028 * Loughs Agencyu2028 * Maritime and Coastguard Agency * (NI)u2028Maritime and Coastguard Agency (UK)u2028 * Mourne Heritage Trustu2028 * National Trustu2028 * Newcastle Chamber of Commerceu2028 * Newry & Mourne District Councilu2028 * Newry & Mourne Enterprise Agency * u2028NI Coastal & Marine Forumu2028 * NIELu2028* NI Fishery Harbour Authorityu2028 * NI Marine Taskforceu2028 * NITBu2028RNLI * u2028Royal County Down Golf Clubu2028 * The Royal Yachting Associationu2028 * RSPBu2028 * Seatrucku2028 * South Eastern Regional College * u2028Southern Regional Collegeu2028 * Stena Line * u2028Strangford Lough & Lecale Partnershipu2028 * Ulster Society for the Protection of the Countryside xa0* u2028Ulster Wildlife Agency * u2028Ulster Wildlife Trustu2028 * Warrenpoint Harbour Authorityu2028 * Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust *]]>