Guidance for Assessment of Cumulative Impacts on the Historic Environment from Offshore Renewable Energy

COWRIE is pleased to announce the release of the above guidance document prepared by Oxford Archaeology.

The development of offshore renewable energy to generate electricity is one of the key strategies being used by the UK Government to address the twin concerns of climate change and the need to secure energy supplies for the future. Implementation of the programme is underway for offshore windfarms and wave energy. Oxford Archaeology, supported by George Lambrick Archaeology and Heritage Consultancy, was commissioned by COWRIE Ltd to produce guidance on the assessment of cumulative impacts on the historic environment arising from offshore renewable energy projects.

The guidance applies to all areas which are likely to be affected by an offshore energy development, thus covering onshore as well as the coastal and marine environments. The marine environment affected by offshore energy schemes comprises UK territorial waters and the Renewable Energy Zones, which have been identified beyond that limit. The guidance is intended to assist developers of offshore renewable energy installations, environmental consultants from all disciplines, historic environment contractors, industry regulators and other authorities, including historic environment curators at national and local level, and the public.

The report can be downloaded here