tourist sector employment evidence from other wind parks ...... · reference robin rigg solway...
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Tourist Sector Employment – Evidence from Other Wind Parks
Introduction
1. The Examining Authority and various participants have raised issues about the quantitative impact of
wind parks on tourism, and in particular on employment. This note sets out further detail on the
evidence from other wind parks that were included in the Socio-Economic and Tourism assessment
(Volume D, Chapter 3 of the Environmental Statement (ES) (Document 6.1)). It provides further detail
on the nature of the tourism industry in those area and the changes in employment (used as a
measure of the overall health of the sector) in the sector that have occurred over the period 1998 to
2013.
2. This information has been provided in response to requests made by the local authorities and reflects
the fact that any significant change in tourist numbers would be reflected in lower turnover for
businesses and lower employment as a result.
Defining Tourism
3. There are a number of different, recognised ways to represent the tourist sector – by its very nature is
varied in terms of direct and indirect jobs, or spatial differences. For the purposes of the Applicant’s
Socio-economics and Tourism assessment (as detailed in Volume D, Chapter 3 of the ES) an Office of
National Statistics (ONS) definition of the tourist sector has been used based on the UK Standard
Industrial Classification.
4. The starting point for the definition of tourism was the ONS report “Measuring Tourism Locally
Guidance Note 1: Definitions of Tourism (version 2), 2012” which identifies 5-digit SIC codes. This was
refined due to a number of reasons:
Some categories/SIC codes have changed significantly over time, so the final list reflects those SIC
codes for which there was robust time series data available. This has not omitted any codes
considered to be significantly tourist related, i.e. this is not expected to have resulted in any
significant undercounting.
Some SIC codes (e.g. road and rail passenger transport) were considered to have too many non- direct
tourism related jobs.
5. The final list uses, in 2007 SIC codes, is as follows:
Accommodation:
o 5510 : Hotels and similar accommodation
o 5520 : Holiday and other short stay accommodation
o 5530 : Camping grounds, recreational vehicle parks and trailer parks
o 5590 : Other accommodation
Food & Drink:
o 5610 : Restaurants and mobile food service activities
o 5629 : Other food service activities
o 5621 : Event catering activities
o 5630 : Beverage serving activities
Rental and Travel Agency:
o 7711 : Renting and leasing of cars and light motor vehicles
o 7911 : Travel agency activities
o 7912 : Tour operator activities
o 7990 : Other reservation service and related activities
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Arts and Culture:
o 9001 : Performing arts
o 9002 : Support activities to performing arts
o 9003 : Artistic creation
o 9004 : Operation of arts facilities
o 9102 : Museum activities
o 9103 : Operation of historical sites and buildings and similar visitor attractions
o 9104 : Botanical and zoological gardens and nature reserve activities
Recreation, Sports and Leisure:
o 9200 : Gambling and betting activities
o 9311 : Operation of sports facilities
o 9321 : Activities of amusement parks and theme parks
o 9329 : Other amusement and recreation activities
o 7721 : Renting and leasing of recreational and sports goods
Review of Evidence from Elsewhere
6. As part of the Socio-economics and Tourism assessment (as detailed in Volume D, Chapter 3 of the
ES), a review of experiences of wind farms elsewhere was undertaken.
7. This approach has the advantage of being based on ex-post facto studies of what has actually
happened in these cases, rather than forecasts or predictions of what could happen. These, therefore,
carry greater weight in the assessment for the purposes of National Policy Statement EN-1, as they
are inherently more reliable as evidence of what impacts are likely in practice. The locations studied
are outlined in the following map, alongside the location of existing wind farms, and heritage coast,
AONB and National Park designations.
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Figure 1: Study Area Locations
8. The tourist sector represents between around 9% and 30% of all jobs in these locations, comparable
to Bournemouth where the tourist sector represents around 14% of all jobs. In each case the
assessment of employment has been undertaken on a sub-local authority scale where appropriate to
reflect the potential for sight of the wind farm to affect business. For reference, Annex 1 to this
appendix shows the detailed spatial study areas for these areas also shown on Figure 1.
9. The following charts (Figures 2 to 10) identify the change in absolute tourist jobs, as defined above, in
each of the study areas between 1998 and 2013, capturing the effect of the construction and
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operational phase of each. The start of the operational phase is shown by a vertical dotted line.
Annex 2 to this appendix includes tables of these data, alongside graphs to show the proportion of all
jobs that the tourist sector represents (to correct for the effects of the recession, where appropriate,
this is best represented as the proportion of all jobs in an area; in this case the same nominal change
occurs).
Figure 2: Robin Rigg
Figure 3: Barrow
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Figure 4: Burbo Bank
Figure 5: Rhyl Flats
Figure 6: Kentish Flats
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Figure 7: Lynn / Inner Dowsing
Figure 8: Scroby Sands
Figure 9: London Array (Thanet – Margate and Broadstairs)
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Figure 10: London Array (Clacton-on-Sea)
10. This time-series analysis of jobs in the tourist sector (as defined above) in these locations (using ward
and local authority areas covering the main urban and suburban areas closest to the wind farms, and
therefore more likely to be visible to them) before construction, during construction and during
operation show clearly the actual changes in employment in the tourism sector.
11. There are two conclusions:
In no case does the construction or operation of the wind farm significantly affect the total
number of jobs in the tourist sector.
Changes in employment are usually part of a pattern of year-on-year volatility.
12. This is summarised in Table 1: A Comparison of Changes in Tourist-Sector Jobs in Areas with Offshore
Wind Farms. In all cases except one, tourism jobs have grown in absolute terms over the period
1998-2013 and have increased their share of employment in the local area. In the case of
Bournemouth, there has been a slight decrease in employment over the period, highlighting the
seasonal and ‘background noise’ effects – the impact of the wind farms in each location do not
represent changes dissimilar to wider or other economic effects. The total tourist sector jobs refers to
the sum of all 5-digit SIC sectors identified by ONS (above) from the Business Register and
Employment Survey 2009-2013 and Annual Business Inquiry 1998-2008. This is represented as a %
change and absolute change over this period, and as a percentage of the total jobs in each area in
Table 1.
Table 1: A Comparison of Changes in Tourist-Sector Jobs in Areas with Offshore Wind Farms
Tourist-Sector Jobs Change in Tourist Sector Jobs 1998-2013
% of Total Jobs Change in % of Total 1998-2013
Robin Rigg 5,317 1,630 9.6% 2.2%
Barrow 8,734 2,177 9.8% 2.4%
Burbo Bank 32,695 3,040 9.3% 0.6%
Rhyl Flats 8,747 3,522 18.3% 6.3%
Kentish Flats 4,204 1,730 11.5% 2.5%
Scoby Sands 5,908 -457 16.4% -2.3%
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Lynn / Inner Dowsing 8,426 2,080 20.5% 3.9%
London Array - Margate and Broadstairs
4,250 949 10.8% 1.2%
London Array - Clacton-on-Sea
4,245 975 11.5% 0.9%
Bournemouth 10,768 -98 13.9% -2.2%
13. Table 1 indicates that there has not been a significant change in jobs, which if supported directly by
visitor expenditure, would suggest that there is no evidence that the wind farms have displaced
visitors, and therefore affected jobs in the tourist industry.
Qualitative Factors
14. Whilst it is recognised that each area has a different and potentially unique tourist sector, there are
examples in policy which confirm that the comparable locations also rate coastal views and seascape,
and visual beauty is a key ‘unique selling point’ (USP) for the tourist draw:
Table 2: Summary of Policy, Guidance and Strategy referring to Visual Amenity as a Tourist Draw in
Locations with Offshore Windfarms (bold added by Applicant for emphasis)
Location Policy / Guidance / Strategy
Reference
Robin Rigg Solway Firth
Allerdale Local Development Framework (LDF), DRAFT Core Strategy, (2012)
Policy EC6 Tourism and Leisure (page 143): “as well as being the area’s most valuable tourism asset, the unspoilt countryside and coastlines are also the area’s most sensitive resource.”
Dumfries and Galloway Local Development Plan (LDP) (2014)
Paragraph 4.49 (page 59): “Areas of wild land character in some of Scotland’s remoter upland, mountain and coastal areas are very sensitive to any form of development or intrusive human activity.”
Solway Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Management Plan 2010 – 2015
Paragraph 1.1.6 (page 4): “The Solway Coast contains many locally, nationally and internationally important features, some centring on landscape and others on wildlife and heritage. Many features are protected by designations and collectively they indicate the high value of the area and underpin the need to protect and enhance it for future generations”
Barrow Barrow-in-Furness
Barrow Borough Local Plan Issues and Options (Consultation Draft) (2014)
Paragraph 4.2.1 (page 50): “The Borough’s coastline is popular with local people and tourists, and benefits from outstanding scenic views…”
Burbo Bank Sefton / North Wirral
Sefton Borough Council Economic Strategy 2012‐2022
Section 5.10, paragraph 5.10.1 (page 20): “Key Opportunities – Sefton’s Natural Coast” – “The “natural coast”… is the setting for Gormley’s world famous “Another Place” installation. A wooded sand dune system and special habitat of international importance, it attracts visitors from Europe and the rest of the world.”
Sefton Local Plan (Draft) (2013)
Paragraph 2.22 (page 9) “Sefton’s 22 miles of coast is an important part of the Borough’s outstanding natural
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environment which helps to make Sefton distinctive and is valued by residents, businesses and visitors alike. The Coast helps define Sefton and is an important part of its identity. It stretches the length of the borough and contains a number of internationally important nature reserves and the most extensive dunes in England. There is a real sense of local pride and interest in this natural heritage which also attracts many visitors to the area. Most of our coast has been designated a Special Area of Conservation under the European Union Habitats Directive, a Special Protection Area under the EU Birds Directive and a Ramsar Site under the Ramsar Convention. The Borough is home to three national and four local nature reserves, and four Sites of Special Scientific Interest.”
Rhyl Flats Conwy / Denbighshire
Conwy LDP 2007-2022, (2013)
Spatial Strategy SO12 states that the Council will seek to: “Safeguard and enhance the character and appearance of the undeveloped coast…” Paragraph 4.6.2.5: “The open coastline is important to amenity, wildlife and recreation. The Great Orme is designated as Heritage Coast because its limestone cliffs and grassland are recognised as being among the nation’s finest coastal scenery…”
Kentish Flats
Herne Bay / Whitstable
Canterbury District Local Plan (Draft) (2014)
Policy LB2 - Areas of High Landscape Value,paragraph 10.14: “The Undeveloped Coast” - “Canterbury District contains attractive areas of undeveloped coast at Seasalter, Swalecliffe, Bishopstone and Reculver. The scenic importance of much of this coastline and the adjoining countryside is of countywide significance and parts have great scientific interest and recreational value.”
Scoby Sands
Great Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth Tourist Strategy (2013-2018)
Section 8.5, paragraph 8.5.1 “Strengths” – first bullet point: “The natural resource features of Great Yarmouth including coastline, beaches, countryside and the Norfolk Broads”
Great Yarmouth Economic Strategy 2011-2016
Page 10 Great Yarmouth Economy “Strengths”, second bullet point: “attractive biodiversity, landscape and coastline”
Lynn / Inner Dowsing
East Lindsey East Lindsey Core Strategy (Draft)
Chapter 10 – Coastal East Lindsey, page 62: “The coast provides all year round tourism. Skegness and Mablethorpe continue to offer safe, traditional family holidays but the offer has grown to incorporate the wild, beautiful and natural landscape of the District’s coast.”
London Array - Margate and Broadstairs
Thanet
Thanet District Council Cultural Strategy (2008)
Page 8: “The District of Thanet is a unique and vibrant coastal area, with 26 miles of nationally and internationally recognised coastline, with seven Blue Flag award winning beaches and bays, more than any other area in the country.” Page 12: “The area is home to the longest continuous stretch of coastal chalk in Britain, which attracts internationally significant numbers of birds, such as turnstones and golden plovers. In addition, the beaches and bays are a major attraction to visitors and, between them; they hold seven Blue Flag awards.”
Thanet Local Plan Issues and Options (Consultation Document) (2013)
Page 14: “The district of Thanet is a unique and vibrant coastal area, with an attractive environment and a number of unique features. There are 32 kilometres of coastline with attractive chalk cliffs and beautiful sandy beaches and bays, many of which
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have been awarded European Blue Flag status.”
London Array - Clacton-on-Sea
Tendring Tendring Draft Local Plan (2012)
“Future Challenges” page19: [the area has] “a wealth of attractive natural and historic landscapes including areas of importance to nature conservation, particularly around its coast and Estuaries”
Structure of Tourism Employment
15. By looking at the sub-sectors (5-digit SIC codes) within the tourist sector as defined above, it should
be possible to highlight the differences and similarities between the offer of Bournemouth and other
locations with wind farms. Figure 11 groups the 5-digit SIC codes into sub-sector groups.
Figure 11: Breakdown of Employment in Tourist Sub-Sectors in Bournemouth and Comparable Locations
with Offshore Wind Farms
16. Bournemouth’s tourist economy is dominated by ‘Accommodation’ and ‘Food & Drink’ sectors at 82%
of all jobs. This is consistent across all comparable locations, ranging from 76% to 86%. Therefore, the
sectoral breakdown within Bournemouth is not dissimilar to other locations.
Small Scale Effects
17. There is a concern that local effects are not sufficiently identified in the Socio-economics and Tourism
assessment (Volume D, Chapter 3 of the ES). While it is recognised that there is a concentration of
tourist-sector jobs at the seafront, the sector is much broader than this, with a significant
representation throughout the Districts as identified using UK Business Count (2013) data at MSOA-
level for the tourist sub-sectors as outlined above (Figure 12).
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Figure 12: Tourist-sector jobs at the seafront
18. This demonstrates that the industry is spatially diverse and is not entirely dependent on the seafront.
Conclusions
19. This information details the evidence of structure and impact on the tourism industry around existing
wind parks. It demonstrates that there is no evidence of any impact on tourism employment, either
in absolute terms or compared to the economy as a whole.
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Annex 1: Detailed spatial study areas
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Annex 2: Change in tourist jobs in each of the study area between 1998 and 2013
Robin Rigg Rhyl Flats Lynn / Inner Dowsing
Employees Total employees Tourism % Employees Total employees Tourism % Employees Total employees Tourism %
1998 3687 49,893 7.4% 1998 5225 43,723 12.0% 1998 6346 38,226 16.6%
1999 3427 47,662 7.2% 1999 5157 43,050 12.0% 1999 5716 36,752 15.6%
2000 3053 46,037 6.6% 2000 5042 42,841 11.8% 2000 5424 36,080 15.0%
2001 3417 47,705 7.2% 2001 5386 44,485 12.1% 2001 4620 37,862 12.2%
2002 3804 45,758 8.3% 2002 4600 43,773 10.5% 2002 5919 38,249 15.5%
2003 4,323 51,938 8.3% 2003 7,040 44,793 15.7% 2003 4,914 40,130 12.2%
2004 5,375 52,711 10.2% 2004 7,999 46,961 17.0% 2004 6,561 38,953 16.8%
2005 5,451 51,885 10.5% 2005 7,596 48,137 15.8% 2005 6,137 39,650 15.5%
2006 6,370 56,139 11.3% 2006 8,349 46,144 18.1% 2006 7,133 41,649 17.1%
2007 6,279 56,144 11.2% 2007 8,125 46,840 17.3% 2007 7,553 43,144 17.5%
2008 6,231 55,009 11.3% 2008 8,198 48,179 17.0% 2008 7,488 42,975 17.4%
2009 5,675 56,225 10.1% 2009 8,687 47,489 18.3% 2009 7,539 42,148 17.9%
2010 5,172 57,065 9.1% 2010 8,305 46,660 17.8% 2010 7,047 41,366 17.0%
2011 5,709 58,004 9.8% 2011 7,692 46,594 16.5% 2011 7,448 42,397 17.6%
2012 6,068 55,552 10.9% 2012 8,660 47,914 18.1% 2012 7,180 40,486 17.7%
2013 5,317 55,191 9.6% 2013 8,747 47,871 18.3% 2013 8,426 41,133 20.5%
Barrow Kentish Flats London Array - Margate and Broadstairs
Employees Total employees Tourism % Employees Total employees Tourism % Employees Total employees Tourism %
1998 6557 89347 7.3% 1998 2474 27,598 9.0% 1998 3301 34,157 9.7%
1999 6333 84825 7.5% 1999 2709 29,696 9.1% 1999 3389 34,140 9.9%
2000 6998 80608 8.7% 2000 2951 27,466 10.7% 2000 3666 32,618 11.2%
2001 6712 87043 7.7% 2001 4260 30,529 14.0% 2001 4909 38,188 12.9%
2002 7142 91725 7.8% 2002 3970 30,585 13.0% 2002 4735 37,193 12.7%
2003 9,243 89821 10.3% 2003 4,229 34,211 12.4% 2003 4,704 36,585 12.9%
2004 10,195 92568 11.0% 2004 4,118 35,232 11.7% 2004 4,325 38,269 11.3%
2005 8,684 88820 9.8% 2005 4,236 37,990 11.2% 2005 4,282 40,577 10.6%
2006 10,075 92366 10.9% 2006 4,453 36,476 12.2% 2006 4,571 38,904 11.7%
2007 9,789 92611 10.6% 2007 4,336 36,740 11.8% 2007 4,357 39,646 11.0%
2008 9,569 91649 10.4% 2008 4,495 38,379 11.7% 2008 4,286 40,242 10.7%
2009 8,644 92,604 9.3% 2009 3,412 36,908 9.2% 2009 3,843 39,327 9.8%
2010 7,802 91,159 8.6% 2010 3,421 37,313 9.2% 2010 3,863 40,188 9.6%
2011 8,383 90,746 9.2% 2011 4,115 36,728 11.2% 2011 4,383 39,720 11.0%
2012 8,958 88,142 10.2% 2012 3,662 35,591 10.3% 2012 3,715 38,640 9.6%
2013 8,734 89,354 9.8% 2013 4,204 36,601 11.5% 2013 4,250 39,265 10.8%
Burbo Bank Scoby Sands London Array - Clacton-on-Sea
Employees Total employees Tourism % Employees Total employees Tourism % Employees Total employees Tourism %
1998 29655 343,235 8.6% 1998 6365 34,066 18.7% 1998 3270 30,928 10.6%
1999 25719 349,931 7.3% 1999 5028 31,697 15.9% 1999 3640 31,146 11.7%
2000 24033 336,964 7.1% 2000 5150 31,739 16.2% 2000 3485 32,807 10.6%
2001 29312 348,220 8.4% 2001 5926 35,050 16.9% 2001 3744 33,387 11.2%
2002 29855 361,454 8.3% 2002 5566 34,808 16.0% 2002 3315 35,570 9.3%
2003 36,464 358,972 10.2% 2003 5,729 35,574 16.1% 2003 4,053 37,036 10.9%
2004 32,142 360,213 8.9% 2004 5,561 35,331 15.7% 2004 3,461 35,591 9.7%
2005 32,311 363,373 8.9% 2005 5,258 35,231 14.9% 2005 3,300 36,478 9.0%
2006 32,483 359,331 9.0% 2006 6,591 36,967 17.8% 2006 3,929 36,908 10.6%
2007 32,565 359,581 9.1% 2007 6,117 36,192 16.9% 2007 3,921 36,543 10.7%
2008 32,955 357,768 9.2% 2008 5,812 35,768 16.2% 2008 4,199 36,549 11.5%
2009 31,548 360,362 8.8% 2009 5,630 37,264 15.1% 2009 3,473 35,832 9.7%
2010 29,333 350,527 8.4% 2010 6,037 36,925 16.3% 2010 3,778 35,745 10.6%
2011 30,534 356,129 8.6% 2011 5,734 36,047 15.9% 2011 3,575 35,400 10.1%
2012 31,916 353,152 9.0% 2012 5,908 36,858 16.0% 2012 3,935 36,621 10.7%
2013 32,695 352,663 9.3% 2013 5,908 36,109 16.4% 2013 4,245 36,902 11.5%
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