HIE: ABPmer to perform Habitats Regulations Appraisal

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has appointed ABPmer to handle a Habitat Regulations Appraisal for their Marine Renewables Infrastructure Plan (MRIP).

Under the EC Habitat and Birds Directive any new plan or project has to undergo a Habitat Regulations Appraisal to determine whether it is likely to have a significant effect on certain European protected sites and how the potential damaging effects can be avoided.

Elena San Martin, Project Manager of ABPmer, said: “We have successfully completed over ten strategic-level marine HRAs, including those for the National Renewables Infrastructure Plan and the Sectoral Marine Plans for Offshore Renewable Energy in Scotland. We have also recently completed the first ever UK-wide plan-level HRA for The Crown Estate (for their wave and tidal energy further leasing plan) and we are currently engaged in two further plan-level HRAs. The results of the HRA will provide valuable information for port and harbour developers.”

ABPmer is a wholly owned subsidiary of Associated British Ports Holdings Limited, concerned with environmental impact assessments, appropriate assessments and cumulative impact assessments.

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Image: ABPmer/Illustration