Windfarms Implementing SPP6 Nick Evans 6 th December 2007

Windfarms Implementing SPP6 Appointing an expert consultant Advice on preparing supplementary planning guidance (SPG)

SPP6 - Overall Aims  “… to enable Scotland to realise its considerable renewable energy potential ”  “ Support renewable energy … and.. protect and enhance Scotland ’ s natural and historic environment ”  “ Wind farms should be accommodated where the technology can operate efficiently and the environmental and cumulative impacts can be addressed satisfactorily. ”

 SPP6 published in March 2007  Spatial frameworks for wind farms  Jim Mackinnon ’ s letter to Heads of Planning  Prepare SPG  Guidance plus support by a consultant Background

Appointing an expert consultant  Why appoint a consultant?  Criteria for the appointment  Expectations  Timing

Advice on preparing SPG analysis of existing DPs and SPG  Strengths  Commitment to rewewables  International and national designations  Local environmental issues/biodiversity  Small scale/community schemes  Stakeholder and public involvement

Advice on preparing SPG analysis of existing DPs and SPG  Issues for advice  Broad areas of search  Green belts  Different designations different policies  Grid capacity  Noise

 Windfarms over 20 MW  Windfarms below 20 MW  Annex A still relevant, but  Consider scale of project with scale and character of landscape  More flexible approach to designated areas  Particularly for community schemes Scope of the SPG

Aims of the SPG  1 - Broad areas of search  2 - Areas of significant protection  3 - Criteria to be followed elsewhere

The SPG process  1 - Areas of significant protection  2 - Criteria to be followed elsewhere  3 – Outwith the above  Broad areas of search

 Natural heritage designations  International designations  National designations  Green belts  Areas where the limit of cumulative impacts have been reached Areas of significant protection

 Historic environment  Regional and local natural heritage areas  Tourism and recreational interests  Communities  Aviation and defence interests  Broadcasting installations Criteria for Elsewhere

 Areas with no significant constraints  Locally sensitive areas  Project viability  Grid capacity  Broad areas of search Outwith protected and potentially constrained areas

 Planning challenge  Widespread experience of DPs/SPG  SPP6 means a review of DPs/SPG  Appointing an expert consultant  Advice on preparing supplementary planning guidance (SPG) Conclusions

Windfarms Implementing SPP6 Nick Evans 6 th December 2007