Conflicting ambitions between Renewables Planning Policy and Development Targets

Whilst we recognise the Scottish Government’s ambitions to increase the number of National Parks within Scotland this does not correspond with their need to deploy more renewable energy to meet our legally binding target of reaching net-zero by 2045 and the binding interim targets for 2030 and 2040. The Scottish Government’s Onshore Wind Policy Statement Refresh 2021- Consultative Draft confirms their ambitions for an additional 8-12 GW of onshore wind development by 2030. However current planning policy within Scottish Planning Policy (SPP 2020) confirms that windfarms should not be developed within National Parks nor within National Scenic Areas, and the draft NPF4 seeks to carry this policy forward for the next 10 years.

Why the contribution is important

The Scottish Government therefore have to consider these conflicting ambitions very carefully and give careful consideration to the introduction of a further National Park which would result in conflict between planning policy and renewable energy developments, in particular onshore wind development which would not be permitted within any new National Park.

by Wilson67CA on June 06, 2022 at 04:59PM

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