Electricity Infrastructure Consenting In Scotland. This is the single most important thing you can do today!
The Scottish Government intends speeding up the planning system in Scotland for large infrastructure projects, and network scale applications, mostly onshore (Section 36 and Section 37 applications). Your right to object effectively will be eroded substantially, allowing poorly planned large scale infrastructure projects to avoid meaningful scrutiny.
Please take action and write to: - scottishelectricityconsenting@energysecurity.gov.uk
Please add your name and address.
You may also wish to forward this response to your MP and MSP.
The consultation documents can be accessed here - https://www.gov.uk/.../electricity-infrastructure..
The Consultation will close on 29th November 2024
Having been offered advice from a legal expert, APAG have already submitted a detailed response to this consultation exercise. Impact can only be achieved by the volume of responses submitted.
The following is intended to assist others in submitting their own responses: - Please use as many of the following points as you wish in your response:
I agree pre-application consultations should become mandatory for all onshore and offshore windfarms/ electricity generating stations/ network projects.
· The proposal must ensure the consultation is meaningful so should include the following:
o Minimum two consultations per community council area in both pre-application and application phases.
o Allow at least 8 weeks for consultations to take place.
o For network projects, a multistage consultation process must be implemented due to their large, complex nature.
o Must include all parts of the project e.g. substations being considered alongside new HV overhead lines, generation proposals to include the related transmission network.
· I agree with the proposal for an Acceptance Stage, but this must allow time for communities and relevant planning authorities to respond - minimum 20 weeks.
· I agree with the proposal to increase information requirements in applications and set these requirements out in regulations. It is important that these include:
o Full details of all alternative approaches, including as wide a range of options as possible.
o Explanation why placement of generating capacity is not close to demand areas.
o Encouraging the use of HVDC for long distance transmission.
o Full details of detrimental impacts and costs on farming, businesses, tourism, and property values.
· I agree with implementing a limit for amendments to applications but disagree with setting them on a case-by-case basis. A maximum time limit should be set beyond which amendments cannot be made.
· I do not agree with the proposed ‘examination’ process as it completely undermines the democratic basis of planning authorities’ objections and puts significant power into the hands of a single, non-elected person.
· A statutory appeal should not be used in place of a judicial review process for challenging the onshore electricity consenting decisions of Scottish Ministers. 6 weeks is not enough time to prepare a challenge of this nature – the timescale should be maintained at 3 months.
· Any statutory process by which variations to network projects may be granted must include the opportunity for communities and relevant planning bodies to give input and/ or object.
· The Scottish Government should not have the ability to vary, suspend or revoke consents, without an application having been made unless communities and relevant planning bodies are given the opportunity to give input and/or object.
· I completely disagree with the proposal for transitional arrangements. Transitional arrangements should not include applications already being processed.
· The Scottish Government should be able to charge fees for all pre-application functions and wayleaves
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Below can be found a link to another very useful document which may assist you further in your response:-
