The Scottish Government

Application

• Timetable for onshore wind farm consents process.
• New scoping guidance available for developers.
• 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.

Environmental

• Guidance On The Electricity Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2000
• 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. A copy of the letter accompanying the report is also available.
• 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.

• SEPA
• SNH - Renewable energy guidance
• SNH guidance documents are also listed in their Renewable Energy Service Level Statement

Planning

• Scottish Planning Policy 6 ( SPP6) is aimed at encouraging Planning Authorities to cover renewable energy policies in their development plans and to identify broad areas of search for wind farms. It also covers the issues which Planning Authorities must address in their applications. The guidance also applies to our processing of section 36 applications (and will also apply to section 37 where applicable).

Other revelevant planning advice notes:

• 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
• NPPG 14 http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/1999/01/nppg14
• PAN 60 http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2000/08/pan60-root/pan60
• SPP 21 http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/04/24122020/0
• NPPG 5 http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/1998/10/nppg5
• NPPG 18 http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/1999/04/nppg18
• PAN 42 http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/1994/01/17081/21711
  Accompanies SPP6

Other

• National Air Traffic Services (NATS) have published Windfarm Safe Guarding Maps which can be consulted as part of the pre-application process.
• 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