East Anglia ONE Offshore Windfarm Construction Artificial Lighting Emissions Plan


September, 2016


4 Potentially Sensitive Receptors 4.1 Introduction 31. During the construction phases, temporary lighting will be required. The sources of temporary lighting are:


• Flood lighting required for the illumination of areas to carry out various works and for security purposes; and • Lighting for equipment such as conveyors, trucks, stockpiles and emplacement areas.


32.


Lighting from these sources has the potential to have the following impacts: •


• •


Impact on ecological sensitive receptors from light spill;


Impact on the visual amenity due to the illumination of the night sky; and • Lighting on surrounding roads, distracting passing motorists.


4.2 Potentially sensitive receptors to artificial light emissions 33.


Potentially sensitive receptors that could be affected by temporary artificial lighting during construction works include visual and ecological receptors.


4.2.1 Visual receptors 34.


There are very few potential sensitive visual receptors in close proximity to the construction works. These include occupiers of residential properties, users of outdoor recreational facilities and off road users. The greatest potential for visual impact from light spill would be at locations where lighting is required at higher elevations for the construction of some structures within the substation. In order to establish a reference of potential buildings that could be affected by light spill, a distance of 100m from the CCSs and Horizontal Direction Drilling (HDD) locations is shown in Appendix 1.


4.2.2 Ecological receptors 35.


Light spill and intrusive lighting from night time works could potentially disturb ecologically sensitive receptors which include nocturnal species. The key ecologically sensitive receptors include badgers, bats, otters and Schedule 1 birds (breeding and non- breeding birds). Detailed baseline data, survey results and mitigation measures are provided in the Ecological Management Plan (EcoMP) (EA1-CON-F-IBR-021237) and the findings from the surveys and mitigation measures agreed with the authorities have been taken into account in this report, and are identified in Appendix 1.


4.2.2.1 Bats 36.


All species of British bats are protected by TheWildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) (W&CA) extended by the Countryside and Rights ofWay Act 2000. Bats are also European Protected Species listed on The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010. Different bat species vary in their sensitivity to lighting. Myotis/Plecotus species are the most light-sensitive species which have been recorded in the survey area. The effect of lighting has the potential to impact the available foraging and roosting habitat for bats as the lighting may deter bat from using a hedgerow or reaching a roosting site.


37.


Little Blakenham Pit Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), which is a known hibernation site for bats, is situated approximately 1km to the north west of the onshore cable route and approximately 3km from the onshore substation. There is therefore the potential for lighting impacts on favoured commuting corridors associated with the designated site in the proximity to the onshore cable route and substation.


38.


Pre-construction surveys have been carried out in 2015 and 2016 (results presented in EcoMP). Ground and tree climb surveys were carried out to re-assess the potential of bat features and a further dusk and/or dawn activity surveys were undertaken in certain trees when required due to their location in relation to the cable route corridor, their bat roost suitability or if they could not be effectively surveyed previously.


Intrusive lighting impacting nearby residents and causing disturbance and annoyance, particularly with regard to sleep patterns;


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