Scotland's planning system is undergoing the most significant modernisation in over 60 years.

With the implementation changes introduced by the Planning Act currently underway there has never been a more important time for planning. It is the aim of the Scottish Government to deliver a planning system that is: efficient, inclusive, fit for purpose, and sustainable.

Planning reform is imperative for Scotland to meet its 80% renewable electricity 2020 targets. We are currently experiencing slow planning decisions which have caused obstruction to projects which have lay for years in the planning system before permission is granted.

Scottish Renewables continues to support the Scottish Government and Local Planning Authorities to ensure planning applications move through the planning process as quickly as possible. We work closely with the Scottish Government and statutory consultees to address any specific problems regarding the implementation of policy or inconsistencies that help to delay planning decisions. Current issues include the aviation issues in the south west Scotland

We encourage the Scottish Government to provide training for local authority planners and planning committees where possible and hold numerous annual events to address various planning issues. 
This funding would aid the evolution of a more transparent and streamlined system allowing planning authorities to deal with applications for renewable projects more efficiently. These resources are vital to enable Scotland to meet its targets; any delay in planning reform could be a real threat to the future of investment for renewables projects in Scotland.

The Scottish Government’s Guide to the Planning System gives helpful background to the planning system in Scotland.

National planning policy on renewables Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) includes support for the development of a diverse range of renewable energy technologies

PAN 45 Renewable Energy Technologies and Annex 2 Spatial Frameworks and Supplementary Planning Guidance for Wind Farms has been replaced with web based renewables advice which will be regularly updated. The first tranche of this advice can be found below:-

• Onshore wind turbines
• Process for preparing spatial frameworks for wind farms
• Hydro schemes
• Woody biomass
• Landfill gas
• Energy from waste
• Anaerobic digestion
• Deep geothermal
• Large photovoltaic arrays
• Energy storage

For more information on planning in Scotland please visit our links page.