Current status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 3 September 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-39428 by Gillian Martin on 28 July 2025, whether it will list the criteria underpinning Crown Estate Scotland’s assessment process in administering seabed leasing for (a) offshore wind development and (b) other marine renewable energy developments.
The assessment process for seabed leasing for offshore wind and other marine renewable developments and the criteria that underpins that process, is a matter for Crown Estate Scotland.
The criteria underpinning the awarding of seabed option agreements by Crown Estate Scotland varies by leasing round and sector. In general, the awards process focuses on ensuring the organisation applying for the agreement has the experience and resources necessary to take the project through to completion. In competitive processes, this information will also be used as the basis for choosing between applications for the same area of seabed.
As an example, the ScotWind Leasing process required provision of the following categories of information from applicants:
i. Project Concept and Feasibility
ii. Project Delivery Plans
iii. Experience and capability of the Lead applicant and Project Partners
iv. Development budget
v. Financial strength
vi. Commitment and preparedness
In addition, Crown Estate Scotland requires confirmation that the applicant is not in breach of any laws or sanctions regimes, with that confirmation being provided by a Statement of Commitment signed by a duly authorised officer of the company.
Crown Estate Scotland is committed to the Fair Work Framework and its underlying principles. With regard to seabed leasing, they require a Statement of Commitment and, for the most recent leasing round (INTOG), the Statement of Commitment required inclusion of a commitment to adopting Fair Work First practices.
Crown Estate Scotland has confirmed that similar commitments will be a requirement of future leasing activities on both offshore wind and marine energy award processes.