‘Hope for the future’ over 50MW onshore wind threshold
Support for raising the controversial 50MW threshold on onshore wind farm decision-making has been described as “welcome news” by campaign group Scotland Against Spin.
Responses to a Scottish Government planning consultation suggest that most communities, individuals, local authorities and third-sector groups are in favour of the move as it could lead to local feelings being taken into account to a greater extent.
Onshore developments above 50 megawatts are determined by the Scottish Government under Section 36 of the Electricity Act. Residents in some areas, including Caithness and Sutherland, have been left feeling powerless when wind farms have been given the go-ahead by ministers despite local opposition.
A consultation entitled “Investing in planning – resourcing Scotland’s planning system” was published in February this year, setting out “a range of options which have the potential to improve the capacity of the Scottish planning system”.
One question was: “Should the current threshold of 50MW for applications for electricity generation which are to be determined by authorities be altered?” It was supported by all respondent categories except development, property and land management sector and agents.
A final draft is expected to be published at the beginning of next year.
Scotland Against Spin lodged a petition in 2021 seeking stronger powers for communities to influence planning decisions relating to onshore wind. The group has voiced concern over wind farms in the far north and other parts of the Highlands.
The petition to the Scottish Parliament’s Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee is still under consideration.
Aileen Jackson, of Scotland Against Spin, said: “Progress on this petition has been slow to say the least. It has now been live for over three years and it appears to us and our supporters that it has been deliberately stalled by the Scottish Government.
“Confirmation that raising the 50MW threshold is supported by the majority of local communities, individuals, local authorities and third-sector groups is welcome news. Together with our request that local support is made a key material consideration in the decision-making process before an application can be consented, it means there is hope for the future.
“New guidance on this is imminent.
“There are currently 85 Section 36 wind farms at the scoping stage and 70 applications in Scotland with an average capacity of 118MW. Caithness and Sutherland have been badly affected.
“The success of this petition will allow local voices to be heard and more decisions to be made at a local level instead of by Scottish ministers in Edinburgh.”