About
The need for an Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) for On-shore Wind Farms
The Scottish Government wishes to ensure that each Planning and National Park Authority has up to date planning policies, including a spatial framework, for on-shore windfarm development which reflects Scottish Planning Policy (SPP).
SPP states that the energy policy target is for 50% of electricity generated from renewable sources by 2020 and notes that this is not a cap. The SPP provides for a planned approach to delivering the target through setting the overall policy for preparing spatial frameworks, including the safeguarding of areas designated for their national and international natural heritage value and greenbelts. The full policy is set out in paragraphs 189-191 of the SPP.
Planning Advice Note 45 and its two annexes (including Annex 2 - Spatial Frameworks and Supplementary Guidance for Windfarms) are being revised during 2010.
Advice and Support Service
We will encourage and support authorities to work together collaboratively in the preparation of the spatial frameworks and SPG or to draw on good practice demonstrated in locally adopted SPG.
Our support and advice is now limited but will reflect and accord with:
- Scottish Planning Policy (SPP);
- Planning Advice Note 45 Renewable Energy Technologies and Annex 2;
- Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 (Strategic Environmental Assessment); and
- An advice line (for details of how to contact us please click here).