# The Outer Dowsing Offshore Wind Farm Order 2026, Paragraph 20: Pre-construction plans and documents


(1) The licensed activities or any part of those activities must not commence until the following (as relevant to that part) have been submitted to and approved in writing by the MMO—
(a) A design plan at a scale of between 1:25,000 and 1:50,000, including detailed representation on the most suitably scaled admiralty chart, to be approved in writing by the MMO in consultation with Trinity House, the MCA, UKHO and the relevant statutory nature conservation body which shows—
(i) the proposed location and choice of foundation of the offshore artificial nesting structure;
(ii) the grid coordinates of the centre point of the proposed location for the offshore artificial nesting structure;
(iii) the dimensions of all foundations;
(iv) the proposed layout of the offshore artificial nesting structure to be constructed under this licence; and
(v) any exclusion zones/environmental micrositing requirements;
to ensure conformity with the description of Work Nos. 8 and 9 and compliance with conditions 1 to 9 above.
(b) A construction programme to include details of—
(i) the proposed construction start date;
(ii) proposed timings for mobilisation of plant delivery of materials and installation works; and
(iii) an indicative written construction programme for the offshore artificial nesting structure comprised in the works at paragraph 3 of Part 1 (licensed marine activities) of this licence (insofar as not shown in sub-paragraph (ii) above);
(c) A construction method statement in accordance with the construction methods assessed in the environmental statement and including details of—
(i) foundation installation methodology, including drilling methods and disposal of drill arisings and material extracted during seabed preparation for foundation works;
(ii) scour protection management including details of the need, type, sources, quantity and installation methods for scour protection;
(iii) main contractors;
(iv) vessels and vessels transit corridors; and
(v) associated and ancillary works;
(d) A project environmental management plan in accordance with the outline project environmental management plan covering the period of construction and operation to include details of—
(i) a marine pollution contingency plan to address the risks, methods and procedures to deal with any spills and collision incidents of the authorised scheme in relation to all activities carried out;
(ii) a chemical risk assessment to include information regarding how and when chemicals are to be used, stored and transported in accordance with recognised best practice guidance;
(iii) waste management and disposal arrangements;
(iv) the appointment and responsibilities of a fisheries liaison officer; and
(v) a marine biosecurity plan detailing how the risk of introduction and spread of invasive non-native species will be minimised;
(e) In the event that driven or part-driven pile foundations are proposed to be used, a marine mammal mitigation protocol in accordance with the outline marine mammal mitigation protocol (piling), the intention of which is to prevent injury to marine mammals, following current best practice as advised by the relevant statutory nature conservation body, to be submitted to the MMO at least six months prior to commencement of piling activities. The marine mammal mitigation protocol must include deployment of noise mitigation systems or noise abatement systems (or both) that will be utilised to manage sounds from those piling activities. The marine mammal mitigation protocol must include full details and justification for the mitigation chosen or excluded for deployment;
(f) An offshore operations and maintenance plan, in accordance with the outline offshore operations and maintenance plan, to be submitted to the MMO at least three months prior to commencement of operation of the licensed activities and to provide for review and resubmission every five years during the operational phase;
(g) A written scheme of archaeological investigation in relation to the offshore Order limits seaward of mean high water, which must be submitted to the statutory historic body at least four months prior to commencement of the licensed activities and to the MMO at least three months prior to commencement of the licensed activities and which must accord with the outline marine archaeological written scheme of investigation and industry good practice, in consultation with the statutory historic body to include—
(i) details of responsibilities of the undertaker, archaeological consultant and contractor;
(ii) a methodology for further site investigation including any specifications for geophysical, geotechnical and diver or remotely operated vehicle investigations;
(iii) archaeological analysis of survey data, and timetable for reporting, which is to be submitted to the MMO within four months of any survey being completed;
(iv) delivery of any mitigation including, where necessary, identification and modification of archaeological exclusion zones;
(v) monitoring of archaeological exclusion zones during and post construction, where required;
(vi) a requirement for the undertaker to ensure that a copy of any agreed archaeological report is deposited with the Archaeological Data Service, by submitting an OASIS (Online Access to the Index of Archaeological Investigations) form with a digital copy of the report within six months of completion of construction of the authorised scheme, and to notify the MMO and Historic England that the OASIS form has been submitted to the Archaeological Data Service within two weeks of submission;
(vii) a reporting and recording protocol, including reporting of any wreck or wreck material during construction, operation and decommissioning of the authorised scheme; and
(viii) a timetable for all further site investigations, which must allow sufficient opportunity to establish a full understanding of the historic environment within the offshore Order limits and the approval of any necessary mitigation required as a result of the further site investigations prior to commencement of licensed activities;
(h) An aids to navigation management plan to be approved in writing by the MMO, following consultation with Trinity House, to include details of how the undertaker will comply with the provisions of condition 6 for the lifetime of the authorised scheme; and
(i) A biogenic reef mitigation plan in accordance with the outline biogenic reef mitigation plan.
(2) In the event that driven or part-driven pile foundations are proposed to be used, the hammer energy used to drive or part-drive the pile foundations must not exceed 3,500kJ.
(3) Pre-construction archaeological investigations and pre-commencement material operations which involve intrusive seabed works must only take place in accordance with a specific written scheme of archaeological investigation which is itself in accordance with the details set out in the outline written scheme of investigation (offshore), and which has been submitted to and approved by the MMO in consultation with the statutory historic body.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2026/138/schedule/15/paragraph/20 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/outer-dowsing-offshore-wind-farm-order-2026/schedule-15/paragraph-20
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.