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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 ”
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WindfarmsImplementing SPP6 Nick Evans 6th December 2007
WindfarmsImplementing 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.”
Background • 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
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
Scope of the SPG • 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
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
Areas of significant protection • Natural heritage designations • International designations • National designations • Green belts • Areas where the limit of cumulative impacts have been reached
Criteria for Elsewhere • Historic environment • Regional and local natural heritage areas • Tourism and recreational interests • Communities • Aviation and defence interests • Broadcasting installations
Outwith protected and potentially constrained areas • Areas with no significant constraints • Locally sensitive areas • Project viability • Grid capacity • Broad areas of search
Conclusions • 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)
WindfarmsImplementing SPP6 Nick Evans 6th December 2007