Comment from Ewan Walker, Project Director

I would like to express our sincere thanks to those who took the time to attend our recent public engagement event, where we had the pleasure of meeting with local community members, fishing industry representatives, development agencies, councillors and council officials among others. The event provided a useful opportunity for local people to ask questions of the Arven project team and to highlight topics of interest. Almost ninety people attended in person despite some wet and windy weather.

For those who were unable to attend in person, an online version of the exhibition can be accessed here. It contains all of the materials from the Lerwick event and provides an opportunity to contribute by completing our feedback survey.

This is the first of a number of consultations that we’ll hold over the coming years. We’re currently in the early stages of undertaking feasibility studies and environmental surveys, which are required to inform both the design of the project and upcoming Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs).

The offshore EIA will be progressed over the next two years and when completed will provide important information to accompany an application for planning consent, which we anticipate submitting to the Scottish Government in 2026. A separate onshore EIA will also be prepared when a grid connection location is confirmed. As more information becomes available regarding the project and environmental topics, we will share it through future consultations.

This is a long-term project that we anticipate being operational in the early 2030s. Input from the community is invaluable and we look forward to continued dialogue as we shape the project and the opportunities it presents.

Find out more about what 2024 will bring for the project in our recent blog, here.