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GUIDING RENEWABLE ENERGY DEVELOPMENTS
Providing greater certainty
22. Planning authorities should use the development plan process to set the framework for considering proposals for all renewable energy developments in their areas. Plans should support the development of all technologies, regardless of scale, whilst ensuring that an areas renewable energy potential is realised in a way that is compatible with other development plan policies and objectives. Plans should also ensure that individual proposals are assessed against clear policies so that clarity is provided to the industry, local communities and others on the potential for the development of renewable technologies throughout the area. This should be done, where appropriate, through spatial policies supported by broad criteria identifying the issues that must be satisfactorily addressed to enable development to take place.
Wind farms
23. During the lifetime of this SPP, onshore wind power is likely to make the most substantial contribution towards meeting renewable targets. Scotland has considerable potential to accommodate this technology in the landscape although, increasingly, careful consideration must be given to the need to address cumulative impacts. Development plans should set out a spatial framework, supported by broad criteria, for the consideration of wind farm proposals over 20 megawatts. Annex A sets out the considerations that should be taken into account when undertaking this work. This framework should not be used to put in place a sequential approach to determining applications.
24. The extent to which considerations set out in Annex A are relevant to proposals below 20 megawatts will be dependent on the scale of development proposed, whilst recognising that the design and location of any development must reflect the scale and character of the landscape. This should be recognised in development plans but the existence of natural heritage designations and other constraints should not be incompatible with the need to encourage smaller-scale wind developments, particularly community and decentralised energy schemes or those within urban and industrial settings.
25. In all instances, applications should be assessed in relation to criteria based policies to provide clarity on the issues that must be addressed to enable development to take place. This criteria will vary depending on the scale of development and its relationship to the characteristics of the surrounding area but are likely to include impacts on landscapes and the historic environment; ecology (including birds), biodiversity and nature conservation; the water environment, communities; aviation; telecommunications; noise; shadow flicker; and any cumulative impacts that are likely to arise.
Biomass
26. The Executive is keen to see the potential biomass resource in Scotland contributing to a diverse range of renewables. The Biomass Action Plan for Scotland sets out a co-ordinated programme for the development of the biomass sector. The location of biomass plants is likely to be determined by a number of factors related to the economic costs of transporting supply materials from source; the availability of feedstock during the year; the location of the end user; and the scale of the plant. In certain locations, there will already be an adequate supply of feedstock from managed woodlands and secondary sawmill products which can be accessed for fuel immediately. In other areas, the growing of energy crops and the expansion of other woodland types would provide further options to support both expansion of the biomass sector and opportunities for local diversification into feedstock production.
27. Planning authorities should consider the extent to which there are opportunities through development plan policies to identify sites appropriate for new biomass plants in those areas where there are either existing long-term secure resources or new opportunities available to harness local resources. However, such policies should recognise that the identification of sites should not exclude development outwith these areas so long as they satisfactorily address specified broad criteria. This criteria is likely to include impacts on the natural heritage, landscape, built and cultural heritage, amenity (including public health and safety), environmental and transportation issues.
Hydro
28. The scope for new hydro-electric schemes in Scotland is likely to be limited. However, there may be an increasing number of proposals for small scale run-of-river projects and, together with the continuing refurbishment of existing large schemes, this should ensure that hydro continues to play an important part in Scotland's renewable energy mix. Development plans should confirm that issues such as impacts on the natural and cultural heritage, water regimes, fisheries, aquatic habitats and species and cumulative impacts must be adequately addressed by applicants.
Energy from waste
29. The National Waste Plan, published in 2003, is based on a hierarchy setting out priorities for waste management. This confirms that waste should only be considered for energy recovery once prevention, including reuse, and recycling and composting options have been realised. There is a variety of technologies that can be used for waste treatment which either generate energy from waste directly or indirectly through incineration or process waste into a fuel which can be used elsewhere.
30. Planning authorities should have regard to the Area Waste Plans drawn up for their area and to other waste management proposals put forward by local authorities to move away from landfill. The location of new facilities will be dependent on the source of waste used and likely to be more appropriately developed within industrial/brownfield sites close to the electricity grid or other potential users. A development plan policy framework should support the identification of sites or provide criteria against which planning applications for new waste management development will be assessed. Separate pollution controls are in place covering these developments so development plan policies should restrict broad criteria to land use and locational factors.
Further advice
31. Planning Advice Note 45: Renewable Energy Technologies (revised 2002) provides additional advice on the key issues associated with the main renewable technologies, which planning authorities should consider when preparing development plan policies and determining planning applications.
Consultation
32. Development plan policies should be prepared in consultation with Scottish Natural Heritage, Historic Scotland, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, the renewables industry, aviation and telecommunication interests, grid owners, local communities, neighbouring authorities, the Executive's Energy Consents Unit and others who will be able to offer valuable advice to enable planning authorities to assess the potential of their areas to provide positively for renewable energy developments.
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