The Scottish Government

Application

• Timetable for onshore wind farm consents process.
• New scoping guidance available for developers (updated October 2008).
• An application and environmental statement checklist is available to download.
• An application pack containing advert templates and other useful information is avaliable for developers.
• A fees guide for section 36 and 37 applications is also available. This guide explains how local planning authorities can claim reimbursement for work carried out on section 36 and section 37 consents.
• Calculating carbon savings from wind farms on Scottish peat lands - A New Approach. Developers are encouraged to use this guidance and its calculator when preparing formal applications.
• It is vital that new projects promote community engagement in planning process and ensure that barriers to this engagement are minimised. It is therefore good practice that developers when applying for Electricity Act consent in areas where Gaelic is predominantely spoken, to place all public notices regarding the development in both the English and Gaelic languages. To assist developers, example translated templates can be found at this link, although it is for the developer to ensure that the public notice for their development are translated correctly.

Environmental

• Guidance On The Electricity Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2000
• Guidance On The Electricity Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2008
• The Peat Hazard and Risk Assessment Guide provides best practice methods to identify, mitigate and manage peat slide hazards and associated risks in respect of consent applications for electricity generation projects in Scotland.
• All applications (including those made prior to 1 April 2006) made to Scottish Ministers for consent under section 36 and 37 of the Electricity Act 1989 to construct and operate a electricity generating scheme will require to comply with the Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2005. SEPA has produced a useful practical guide about CAR for developers.
• Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) are required to be established under the EC Birds and Habitats Directives respectively. In many cases, the same area of land is protected by more than one designation. Further guidance and details of designated sites in Scotland is available on the Joint Nature Conservation Committee website.

• Habitats and Birds Directive: June 2000 - Revised Scottish Executive guidance updating Scottish Office Circular No. 6/1995

• SEPA

• SNH - Renewable energy guidance
• SNH guidance documents are also listed in their Renewable Energy Service Level Statement
• Forestry Commission Scotland have developed a policy on the control of woodland removal

• Scottish Government's policy on control of woodland removal

Planning

National planning policy on renewable energy is currently set out in Scottish Planning Policy 6 ( SPP6). It encourages Planning Authorities to include renewable energy policies in their development plans and to identify broad areas of search for wind farms. It also identifies the issues which Planning Authorities must consider when deciding planning applications. The policy also applies to our processing of section 36 applications (and will also apply to section 37 where applicable).

Planning Advice Note (PAN) 45 and its Annex (Annex B) provide advice on planning matters relating to renewable energy

PAN 45 http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2002/02/pan45/pan-45

PAN 45 ANNEX http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/10/03093936/0

Other relevant planning policy and advice includes:

NPPG 14 Natural Heritage http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/1999/01/nppg14

SPP 21 Green Belts http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/04/24122020/0

SPP 23 Historic Environment http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/10/28135841/0

PAN 42 Archaeology http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/1994/01/17081/21711

PAN 60 http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2000/08/pan60-root/pan60

The SPP and NPPG series is being consolidated into a single, shorter SPP. The draft consolidated SPP was published in April 2009, and the consultation period ended on 24 June 2009. The final consolidated SPP will replace SPP6 and all other current SPPs and NPPGs. It will be published at the end of 2009. For more information see http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/planning/National-Planning-Policy/newSPP

Tourism

Economic Research Findings: The Economic Impacts of Wind Farms on Scottish Tourism. Report commissioned by Glasgow Caledonian University to assess whether Government priorities for wind farms in Scotland are likely to have an economic impact on Scottish tourism.

• Contents
• Key Findings
• Study
• News release - 12 March 2008

Aviation

• National Air Traffic Services (NATS) have published Windfarm Safe Guarding Maps which can be consulted as part of the pre-application process. There is also guidance from the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) regarding aeronautical and military impacts on onshore wind farms.
• South of Scotland Regional Aviation Solution - Minutes of First Meeting
• South of Scotland Regional Aviation Solution - Minutes of Second Meeting
• South of Scotland Regional Aviation Solution - Minutes of Third Meeting
• SNH Map of Zones of Natural Heritage Sensitivity - January 2009
• SNH Windfarm Footprint Map - January 2009
• Extending the Use of Kincardine Radar - Presentation from BAA Airports
• NATS - Scottish TMA Primary Radar Capability Study

Marine

• Offshore Wind Farms Consents Process outlines all aspects of the offshore consents process for developers planning to build wind farms in Scottish waters and also explains the role of the Energy Consents team within that process. This document does not lay down a mandatory application process but provides the developer with a streamlined approach, identifying best practice.
• SNH Marine Renewables Guidance Note