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DEVELOPMENT PLANNING
39. In updating development plan policies, authorities should reflect the policies in this SPP. Policies in all cases should:
- support the Scottish Ministers' commitment to renewable energy and provide positively for its development;
- identify broad areas of search where projects for wind farms above 20 megawatts will be supported subject to specific proposals satisfactorily addressing all other material considerations;
- indicate areas that will be given significant protection from wind farms over 20 megawatts because of the existence of national and international natural heritage or green belt designations or where development would result in unacceptable cumulative impacts;
- guide developers on the broad criteria to be considered for all renewable energy development proposals, including any additional criteria that will apply to areas where identifiable constraints exist;
- include policies which support wider application of medium and smaller scale renewable technologies, such as decentralised energy supply systems, community, household and microgeneration projects; and
- provide a clear development management framework.
40. Some planning authorities may have already progressed work that identifies broad areas of search for wind farms in their development plans. Such areas should provide a steer to developers on acceptable locations but their existence should not be used to rule out development elsewhere if it can be accommodated in a manner consistent with the approach set out in this SPP. Planning authorities should continue to determine those applications that are, or come, before them ahead of revised local policies being put in place.
41. Where opportunities exists, planning authorities should either update local policies ahead of transitional arrangements for development planning being brought forward under powers in the 2006 Planning Act or produce supplementary planning guidance to provide an interim basis for efficient and consistent decision making. Planning authorities should incorporate any non-statutory policies into their plans in due course.
42. The 2006 Planning Act introduced a requirement for the preparation of local development plans throughout Scotland and strategic development plans for only the four largest city regions. It will be a matter for relevant planning authorities to consider how to take forward the requirements in this SPP in these plans. New procedures are being introduced for the mandatory examinations of all development plans where objections have not been withdrawn. This will help ensure that objections are dealt with independently and transparently and that the adopted or approved plan has been thoroughly tested against the policies set out in this SPP.
43. In future, all development plans will be reviewed every 5 years so that they provide an up-to-date vision for development in the area. Renewable energy policies should be reviewed in this context.
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