Scottish good practice on community benefits leads the way for the UK
In response to the UK Government’s recent working paper on community benefits, over 40 organisations drawn from across local communities and the renewable energy industry have come together to voice support for Scotland’s good practice on community benefits.
Strengthened over two decades of hard-won learning by local communities and project developers, the open letter shines a spotlight on how Scotland has the most experience in community benefits practice from renewable energy technologies.
The signatories believe that any future UK Government policy on community benefits should:
- Build on the foundation of good practice already developed here in Scotland
- Acknowledge there is a shared desire to go further and create greater impact
- Enable, not constrain, the continuing development of best practice
Since the 1990s, more than £200 million of community benefit funding has been awarded to support the priorities of local communities from renewable energy projects across Scotland. Over £30 million was awarded from 283 projects last year alone, many of which featured in a recent report by Scottish Renewables.
The open letter calls on the UK and Scottish governments to ensure future policies build on the “accessible guidance, flexible structures and good governance” already promoted in Scotland’s “world-leading” Good Practice Principles.
Commenting, Morag Watson, Director of Onshore at Scottish Renewables, said:
“Scotland’s renewable energy industry is proud of its positive record on local community benefit funding which is delivered on an unrivalled scale. This open letter demonstrates a strong level of support amongst local communities, developers and other stakeholders for the years of good practice which has matured in Scotland.
“As the Scottish and UK governments consider future policy on community benefits, we encourage them to build on Scotland’s positive example by keeping communities empowered and projects viable. This will help to ensure a lasting legacy is secured for local communities and maintains Scotland’s global lead in renewable energy.”
The open letter has been supported by Foundation Scotland, Scotland’s Community Foundation and an independent charitable funder which is dedicated to resourcing communities to take action, create positive change and deliver lasting impact. As the UK’s most experienced community benefit fund administrator, it works with communities and developers across Scotland to design and deliver positive outcomes from community benefit funds.
Rachel Searle, Head of Communities at Foundation Scotland, added:
“As the scale and pace of renewable and low carbon developments gather pace in the face of the climate emergency Scotland has real opportunity to further drive-up good practice and achieve more transformative outcomes.
“Collaborating more and better will help achieve this and this cross-sector statement is a great indication of the appetite in Scotland to do just that.”
Ends
Notes to editors
- Read the cross-sectoral statement in response to the UK Government’s community benefits working paper.
- Read the Scottish Renewables and RenewableUK report ‘Community Benefit in Action: Case Studies from the Onshore Wind Sector’.
- Analysis by BVG Associates of the Scottish onshore wind pipeline between 2024-2030 reveals that community benefit funding from onshore wind projects in Scotland is projected to reach £125 million each year if planned capacity is delivered.
- Read the UK Government’s working paper on community benefits and shared ownership for low carbon energy infrastructure. Scottish Renewables' consutation response is available on its website.
- Read the Good Practice Principles from Community Benefit Onshore Renewable Energy Developments.
- More information about Foundation Scotland can be found on its website.