Planning Statement North Arran Marine Fish Farm Prepared By: Arcus Consultancy Services 7th Floor 144 West George Street Glasgow G2 2HG T +44 (0)141 221 9997 l E [email protected] w www.arcusconsulting.co.uk Registered in England & Wales No. 5644976 Planning Statement North Arran Marine Fish Farm TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................ 2 1.1 Background .................................................................................................... 2 1.2 The Applicant .................................................................................................. 2 1.3 Proposed Development Overview .................................................................. 2 1.4 Site Selection and Description ....................................................................... 3 1.5 Need for the Proposed Development ............................................................. 4 1.6 North Ayrshire and Scottish Supply Chain ..................................................... 4 1.7 Wider Supply Chain Impacts for Scotland ...................................................... 5 1.8 Supporting Arran’s Objectives ....................................................................... 6 1.9 Benefits of the Proposed Development .......................................................... 6 1.9.1 Innovation ........................................................................................................... 8 1.9.2 Operating in higher energy (exposed) Sites ............................................................. 8 1.9.3 Economic/Employment Benefits ............................................................................. 8 2 THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT ................................................................................ 9 2.1.1 Pens .................................................................................................................... 9 2.1.2 Pen Nets ............................................................................................................ 10 2.1.3 Bird Nets ............................................................................................................ 10 2.1.4 Feed Barge ........................................................................................................ 11 2.1.5 SeaSpine ............................................................................................................ 11 2.1.6 Moorings ............................................................................................................ 11 2.1.7 Pen Lighting ....................................................................................................... 12 2.1.8 Production Cycle ................................................................................................. 12 2.1.9 Stocking ............................................................................................................. 12 2.1.10 Food and Feeding ............................................................................................... 12 2.1.11 Grading.............................................................................................................. 13 2.1.12 Harvesting ......................................................................................................... 13 2.1.13 Site Servicing ..................................................................................................... 13 2.1.14 Veterinary Treatments and Medicines ................................................................... 13 2.1.15 Mortalities .......................................................................................................... 14 3 EIA REGULATIONS AND SCOPING OPINION .......................................................... 14 3.1 EIA Criteria ................................................................................................... 14 3.2 Scoping Opinion and Responses .................................................................. 14 4 POLICY AND PLANNING CONTEXT .......................................................................... 16 4.1 Introduction ................................................................................................. 16 The Scottish Salmon Company Arcus Consultancy Services August 2019 Page i 4.2 Scottish Planning Policy (2014) ................................................................... 16 4.3 National Planning Framework 3 (2014) ....................................................... 17 4.4 Scotland’s National Marine Plan (2015) ....................................................... 17 4.5 A Fresh Start: The Renewed Strategic Framework for Scottish Aquaculture (2009) ........................................................................................................... 19 4.6 Supporting Aquaculture Growth and Protecting Scotland’s Environment (2017) ........................................................................................................... 19 4.7 Aquaculture Growth to 2030 (2016) ............................................................ 20 4.8 Aquaculture Growth to 2030: A Strategic Plan for Farming Scotland’s Seas ...................................................................................................................... 20 4.9 The Development Plan ................................................................................. 20 4.10 North Ayrshire Council Proposed Local Development Plan (2019) .............. 21 4.11 North Ayrshire Council Local Development Plan (2014) .............................. 31 4.12 Policy Assessment ........................................................................................ 37 4.12.1 Aquaculture ........................................................................................................ 37 4.12.2 Water quality and carrying capacity ...................................................................... 38 4.12.3 Access ............................................................................................................... 39 4.12.4 Economic ........................................................................................................... 39 4.12.5 Landscape and Visual .......................................................................................... 40 4.12.6 Ecology .............................................................................................................. 42 4.12.7 Archaeology and Cultural Heritage ....................................................................... 42 5 RELEVANT MATERIAL CONSIDERATIONS ............................................................... 43 5.1 North Ayrshire Council Supplementary Planning Guidance ......................... 43 5.1.1 Coastal Design Guidance ..................................................................................... 43 5.1.2 Ayrshire Shoreline Management Plan (2018) ......................................................... 43 5.2 North Ayrshire Council Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy ........................................................................................................ 44 5.3 Ayrshire Landscape Assessment (1998) ...................................................... 44 5.4 Firth of Clyde Marine Spatial Plan (2010) .................................................... 44 5.5 Emerging Clyde Regional Marine Plan ......................................................... 45 5.6 Assessment of Relevant Material Considerations ........................................ 45 6 CONCLUSION ........................................................................................................... 45 Arcus Consultancy Services The Scottish Salmon Company Page ii August 2019 Planning Statement North Arran Marine Fish Farm EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Scottish Salmon Company Limited (“SSC”, “the Applicant”) is proposing to install and operate a marine fish farm in the Firth of Clyde off the coast of Arran (“the Site”). The Proposed Development would be located approximately 2 km southeast of Laggan and approximately 4.5 km north of Sannox. An application for planning permission (“the Application”) is being submitted under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 (as amended) to North Ayrshire Council (“the Council”). The Proposed Development, which would occupy a surface area of approximately 2.3 hectares (“ha”) inclusive of barge moorings, involves the installation and operation of an Atlantic salmon fish farm, comprising two groups of 10 pens of 120 m circumference (19.1 m) radius (“the Site”). The total surface area of the moorings would be (1km2). The pens would be held in two groups of 5 x 2 pens. The pens (feed pipes and SeaSpine) would be painted dark grey or black in colour to minimise visual intrusion and impact on the landscape. This Planning Statement is intended to provide North Ayrshire Council with sufficient information to allow determination of the Application. Each of the subject areas is considered in light of the planning policy context, including the proposed North Ayrshire Council Local Development Plan (at examination) and current adopted North Ayrshire Council Local Development Plan (“NACLDP”). Other relevant material considerations are also summarised and assessed. The detailed Environmental Impact Assessment Report (“EIAR”) that accompanies the Application highlights any areas of environmental sensitivity and details methods of mitigation to reduce impacts where