Several key modifications have been made to the proposed Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm since the consent applications were submitted in November 2005. These refinements to the project are a result of further information received and ongoing development of the wind farm design.

The key changes to the project design are:

• A revision of the Gwynt y Môr turbine area (referred to as the "Revised Turbine Area")
• A revision of the turbine layout scenarios
• A revised start date for the construction programme

The Revised Gwynt y Môr Turbine Area

The maximum project boundary area (Crown Estate lease area) covers 124 km² (48 square miles. The area within which it was proposed that wind turbines would be built in the consent application was 94.8km² (36.6 square miles). As a result of the SEI work, the area within which it is now proposed that turbines would be built has been reduced by 16% to 79km² (30.5 square miles).

The revision to the turbine boundary has resulted from additional information and project design work subsequent to the consent application, and particularly through:

• An improved understanding of the wind resource at Gwynt y Môr using wind data collected by the meteorological mast installed on site in August 2005
• Responses received from consultees to the Gwynt y Môr application and understanding gained through further environmental studies and surveys

The Revised Turbine Area has been designed to provide for:

• Greater separation from shipping passing to the north and south of Gwynt y Môr
• A reduced spread of wind turbines on the horizon from viewpoints on the Welsh and English coasts with an associated reduction in visual effects
• More room for helicopters approaching the adjacent Douglas oil and gas platform
• Engineering benefits by moving some turbines away from areas of deeper water

Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm - Revised Turbine Area

The revised turbine area has changed the way the project might look from viewpoints around Liverpool Bay. The reduction in turbine area means that the spread of the project has been reduced, as outlined by the viewpoints listed below (as compared to the turbine area set out in the Environmental Statement):

• A significant reduction in the predicted visual impacts at a number of key viewpoints is shown, most notably the viewpoints along much of the Llandudno promenade but also views from the Great Orme and Conwy Mountain.

Viewpoint	Reduction in the spread of the project on the horizon
Conwy Mountain	21.6%
Great Orme, near summit	23.9%
Great Orme, Cemetery	24.0%
Great Orme's Head, café	24.7%
Llandudno, memorial	17.8%
Llandudno, conference centre	21.6%
Llandudno, paddling pool	20.2%

• A positive effect on the visual perception of the project at a number of key viewpoints including Penmon Point, Beaumaris, Bangor, Llanfairfechan and at locations on the northern part of the Sefton coast such as Formby Point and Southport Pier, due largely to the reduction in the spread of the project across the horizon. The reduced spread of the Gwynt y Môr project on the horizon at these viewpoints (compared to the turbine area set out in the Environmental Statement) is shown in the following table.

Viewpoint	Reduction in the spread of the project on the horizon
Penmon Point	38.7%
Beaumaris	25.5%
Bangor	29.7%
Carnedd Llewelyn	19.9%
Llanfairfechan	22.0%
Formby Point	8.9%
Southport Pier	12.0%

The photomontages produced for the SEI show an optically accurate picture of the project from a number of viewpoints in a number of different lighting conditions. The photomontages show the largest possible turbines at Gwynt y Môr (150 x 5MW wind turbines) and the Rhyl Flats Offshore Wind Farm layout that will actually be constructed (25 x 3.6MW wind turbines).

The pie-chart below gives an indication of how often the weather conditions will mean that the project is visible from the shore. Combining these two sources of information gives a good indication of the final appearance of the project.

This chart shows roughly the amount of time the Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm will be visible from the shore.

The chart is based on data collected over 10 years at the Met Office weather station at Rhyl. The visibility of the wind farm at any time will depend on many factors, such as the clarity of the air, the lighting conditions, height of viewpoint and distance of viewpoint from the wind farm.

Revised Layout Scenarios

The turbine layout scenarios presented in the Environmental Statement have also been refined to fit within the revised turbine area. The turbines in each case have been moved closer together which has resulted in turbines spacing in each of the layouts being reduced by around 50 metres in each direction.

The revised turbine layouts also have the benefit of reducing the total length of the cabling required to electrically connect the turbines to each other and to the offshore substations.

The Construction Timetable

If the project is granted consent, construction is now expected to start in 2010 rather than 2008 as originally stated.