March 13, 2012
Scotland

Watchdog sets new wind farm rules

renews.biz 13 March 2012

Scottish Natural Heritage has produced new policies to guide wind farm developers working north of the border.

The watchdog has released new guidance on assessing the cumulative impacts of onshore wind as well as project “connectivity with special protection areas”.

SNH has also produced new policies on where small-scale wind farms should be sited, how developers should design those projects and ultimately how those projects should be assessed by planners.

New documentation promotes what SNH called a “plan-led and consistent approach to considering development proposals across Scotland, recognising that in some situations different levels of assessment will be required”.

Peter Hutchinson, head of advice on planning and renewables at SNH, said: “We support renewable energy as a means of addressing the challenge of climate change. Our role is to provide advice on good practice to planners and developers so they can balance the needs of people and nature with wider social and economic needs. The aim of our advice is to make sure the right developments happen in the right places.

“We recognise however that it would be impractical for us to get involved in all applications. Given the demand on our resources from larger scale renewable energy development, we will be more selective and targeted in our engagement with small scale wind energy proposals. This means we will provide guidance on good practice and target our detailed advice on applications that require environmental impact assessment or a habitats regulations appraisal.”

Energy Minister Fergus Ewing said: “I welcome the launch of Scottish Natural Heritage”s new windfarm guidance. It will help planners and developers consider the needs of people, renewable energy and nature and will help ensure a consistent, streamlined approach to wind turbine applications.”

The documents are available here:

http://www.snh.gov.uk/docs/A669283.pdf

http://www.snh.gov.uk/docs/A675474.pdf

http://www.snh.gov.uk/docs/A675503.pdf

http://www.snh.gov.uk/docs/A675507.pdf


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/03/13/watchdog-sets-new-wind-farm-rules/