Reasons for choosing the ICP as adopted

The following reasonable alternatives were identified and assessed in the Environmental Report:

• Maintaining the Ferries Plan. Given that there is no legal requirement to have/implement a Ferries Plan, maintaining the existing one was considered a reasonable alternative, in which the Ferries Plan (2013 – 2022) would remain the default policy framework for decisions associated with transport for ferry dependent communities in Scotland.

The Environmental Report concluded that the expanded scope of the ICP in relation to the Ferries Plan could be considered to overall decrease the potential negative effects that implementing this alternative would have, and to overall increase the opportunities for environmental enhancement. In addition, maintaining an out-of-date plan would mean that existing issues that have been identified by island communities through consultation would not be addressed, and all decisions associated with transport for ferry dependent communities in Scotland would be made based on an assessment that was carried out back in 2009, contradicting higher-level policies, and potentially resulting in negative environmental effects.

• No replacement Plan. Given that there is no legal requirement to have / implement a Ferries Plan, concluding the existing one and having no replacement plan was considered a reasonable alternative, in which any decisions associated with transport for ferry dependent communities in Scotland would be made based on more generic and higher-level policies.

The Environmental Report concluded that making decisions based on more generic and higher-level policies would fail to address existing issues that have specifically been identified by island communities through consultation, hindering the management and delivery of ferry services by the Scottish government.

Overall, without a strategic vision, desired Outcomes, or sector-specific Objectives that guide the delivery of ferry services and associated infrastructure, there would be potential for negative environmental effects and lost opportunities for environmental enhancements that are achieved through the ICP.