geomorphological value or function which may potentially be affected by the proposed East Anglia THREE project, namely:





Offshore sandbanks and reefs – these morphological features play an important role in influencing the baseline tidal, wave and sediment transport regimes and, potentially, in sheltering the shoreline; and





Beaches, dunes and sea cliffs - these morphological features play an important natural coastal defence role at the shoreline and often have geo-science value.


189. In respect of the above considerations, the East Anglia ZEA identified seventeen receptor groups in total. The location of these is shown in Figure 7.5.


190. Seven receptor groups covered sensitive coastlines in both eastern England (two receptor groups, namely ‘East Anglia’ and ‘Essex & Kent’) and across northern mainland Europe (five receptor groups, including ‘France’, ‘Belgium’, ‘Southern Netherlands’, ‘Western Netherlands’ and ‘Northern Netherlands’).


191. Nine further receptor groups were identified to cover the designated Natura 2000 sites in eastern England (five receptor groups, namely ‘The Wash’, ‘Central North Sea’, ‘Norfolk’, ‘Kent & Essex’ and ‘Suffolk’) and wider Europe (four receptor groups, namely ‘France’, ‘Belgium’, ‘Southern Netherlands’ and ‘Northern Netherlands’). It should be noted that the Natura 2000 sites often comprise groupings of multiple distinct (and designated) features, such as sandbanks, sand dunes, and sand and shingle beaches.


192. One further receptor group covered nearby ‘non-designated sandbanks’ in the Outer Thames Estuary, including Inner Gabbard, Outer Gabbard, The Galloper, North Falls and one un-named bank.


193. The East Anglia ZEA assessed the potential cumulative impacts arising from development of the whole East Anglia Zone in relation to marine geology, oceanography and physical processes (ABPmer 2012a). It concluded there would be:





No significant impacts on all seventeen receptor types in relation to changes in the wave regime. However, it was recommended that the potential impact should be considered further to confirm this at EIA stage for individual projects for four receptor groupings (namely sensitive ‘East Anglia’ coastline, ‘Norfolk’ Natura 2000 site, ‘Suffolk’ Natura 2000 site and ‘non-designated sandbanks’) due to some uncertainty regarding the magnitude of changes to the wave regime outside of the East Anglia Zone.


Preliminary Environmental Information May 2014


East Anglia THREE Offshore Windfarm Chapter 7 Marine Geology, Oceanography and Physical Processes Page 39


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