Chamber and committees

Each project specific Seabird Compensation Plan is considered on case by case basis in line with regulation and relevant guidance – it would not be appropriate to comment further on the content of individual Seabird Compensation Plans until they are submitted. There is nothing in regulations to preclude Seabird Compensation Plans including compensation measures delivered outside Scotland or the UK as long as it can be demonstrated that the compensatory measures proposed benefit the UK Marine Protected Area network.

The Scottish Government is carefully considering the findings and recommendations of Environmental Standards Scotland (ESS) contained in its report Protecting Scotland’s Seafloor: an assessment of Scottish Ministers’ implementation of the Marine Strategy Regulations 2010, and will work constructively with ESS to seek to agree an appropriate action plan within the timescale suggested in the report.

The Scottish Government will set out its position on the report's findings and recommendations through that engagement and in its formal response, updating the Scottish Parliament as appropriate in this respect.

The exact timing of the submission of the Berwick Bank Seabird Compensation Plan is a matter for SSE Renewables. Current indication from SSE Renewables for submission is late in 2026. As per the Section 36 consent condition, consultation will be undertaken with NatureScot; Natural England and any such other advisors or organisations as may be required at the discretion of the Scottish Ministers.

Scottish Government published statutory guidance on compensating for adverse effects from offshore wind in July 2026. The guidance sets out processes for accessing a wider range of compensatory measures, including a requirement to work through a compensation hierarchy. As set out, the guidance should be applied by offshore wind developers when preparing compensation proposals. This includes the developer of the Berwick Bank offshore wind farm.

Officials are currently considering evidence gathered through the 2025 public consultation on the Good Practice Principles for Community Benefits from Onshore Renewable Energy Developments and the subsequent stakeholder engagement undertaken in spring 2026 on the Working Paper: Onshore renewable energy - refreshing the good practice principles for community benefits: working paper - gov.scot. Subject to the completion of this work, the Scottish Government plans to publish the refreshed onshore Good Practice Principles before the end of 2026.

The Marine Directorate Licensing Operations Team has met with SSE Renewables on multiple occasions, both at regular planned meetings and topic specific meetings, to discuss and provide advice and guidance on the requirements for Berwick Bank post consent plans including the Seabird Compensation Plan.

The Scottish Government has held regular discussions with the National Lottery Community Fund (NLCF) regarding delivery of the revised Dormant Assets Policy Direction Framework. Consultation, scoping and analysis are continuing by NLCF, with funding programmes expected to be developed by March 2027. The outcomes of the consultation, including with credit unions and community finance providers, will help shape future engagement with financial inclusion stakeholders and inform the delivery of funding programmes.

In late 2025, in line with the process agreed by the Scottish Parliament, the Scottish Government issued revised directions to the National Lottery Community Fund (NLCF) for Scotland's share of dormant assets funding. The revised directions include a new focus on financial inclusion, with specific reference to affordable credit.

The NLCF recently undertook a consultation to inform the development of its funding programme for the financial inclusion element of the revised directions. It is now developing a strategic plan outlining how it will deliver against these priorities, which will be presented to the Scottish Government before being laid in the Scottish Parliament.

The Scottish Government expects credit unions and community finance providers to play a key role in supporting people who face barriers to accessing fair and affordable financial services. The NLCF have awarded Social Investment Scotland with a £92,000 development grant to undertake sector-wide consultation and help ensure that future work on affordable credit is informed by lived experience, sector expertise, and practical delivery considerations.

The Scottish Government is updating its Good Practice Principles for Community Benefits from Onshore Renewable Energy Developments to reflect how Scotland’s energy landscape has evolved since the last publication in 2019.

To inform this work, and alongside a full public consultation in 2025, officials undertook a programme of engagement during spring 2026 to seek feedback on proposals in Onshore renewable energy - refreshing the good practice principles for community benefits: working paper - gov.scot.

Regional discussion events with community groups consisted of five online events covering the Highlands, Islands, Central Scotland, North East Scotland, and South Scotland. These sessions were attended by representatives of community benefit groups, community councils, development trusts, third sector organisations and local authorities.

Targeted engagement with developers and community groups included two online roundtable discussions chaired by the former Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy. One roundtable was attended by renewable energy developers, trade associations and enterprise agencies. The second brought together representatives from community councils, community development trusts, community benefit funds, regional partnerships and national intermediary organisations from across Scotland.

A youth workshop was also delivered in partnership with the Scottish Youth Parliament as part of the wider programme of engagement supporting the update of the Good Practice Principles.

The latest assessment of Good Environmental Status in UK waters was published in 2026 in UK Marine Strategy Part One: Updated Assessment and Good Environmental Status. This assessment is published by the UK Government, working with the devolved authorities including the Scottish Government. The assessment concluded that Good Environmental Status for seafloor integrity had not yet been achieved across UK waters.

A copy of that assessment can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/marine-strategy-part-one-update

The assessment does not indicate a particular date by which Good Environmental Status is expected to be achieved for sea floor integrity across UK waters. Progress towards Good Environmental Status is anticipated through continued implementation of the UK Marine Strategy Regulations 2010 which establish a cyclical process of assessment, target-setting, monitoring and programmes of measures.

The Scottish Government continues to work with the other governments of the UK, and internationally, to implement measures intended to improve the condition of benthic habitats and seafloor integrity and progress towards Good Environmental Status in UK waters.