Major Electricity Development Applications & Community Engagement
Perth and Kinross Council · 4 December 2024
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Motion by Councillors K Allan and F Smith Major Electricity Development Applications & Community Engagement This Council: NOTES there are a number of major proposed electricity generation, storage and transmission developments, which have been or are likely to be presented to Perth & Kinross Council for planning permission, or for a response as a Consultee, in the near future. ACKNOWLEDGES that, without prejudice to future determinations, such major infrastructure developments are very likely to have significant scheme specific and cumulative environmental and socio-economic impacts upon communities and landscapes within Perth & Kinross. RECOGNISES it is desirable that communities across Perth & Kinross are fully engaged in the consultation and planning process and are suitably empowered to respond on an equal basis given the resources deployed by the developers, SSEN and statutory consultees. NOTES that these major development applications need to be considered in a Perth & Kinross Council wide context so that reference is made to the combined effects from the entirety of developments across Perth & Kinross, therefore achieving a better understanding of the cumulative impact on our communities and our environment. THEREFORE, this Council AGREES: (1) REAL TIME MAPPING - To produce a real time map subject to the following caveat on pre-application planning advice, publicly available online, showing all the major renewable energy related developments within the Council’s knowledge, existing and proposed, including those which are or will come to Council for planning, be they operational or otherwise. In so far as legally permissible and with regard to issues of confidentiality, to explore the anonymised inclusion of approaches made to Perth & Kinross Council for pre-application planning advice. This map will therefore present a holistic overview of the applications that are currently in the pipeline, including but not limited to, all proposed electricity generation, storage and transmission developments, grid connection, energy generation stations, Battery Energy Storage Systs (BESS), and wind farms. It is acknowledged that there may be some limitations with proposals which cross planning authority boundaries, but every effort will be made to capture and provide as much information as possible. (2) THE APPROACH TO APPLICATIONS (i) The Strategic Lead – Economy, Development and Planning will continue dialogue with the Scottish Government to ensure that the full cumulative aspect of developments, including the potential grid connection, is considered within the submission of an application under S36 of the Electricity Act for an energy
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generation station, and for all BESS applications of whatever scale, with the Strategic Lead to keep Council updated regarding progress, and (ii) If an increase in the MW threshold for applications under S36 of the Electricity Act is implemented so that some additional generating stations would fall within the Town and Country Planning Acts, the Council will update its Planning Guidance for such developments to ensure that the cumulative impacts are considered in full, including the grid connection aspects of a development. (3) COMMUNITY COUNCIL MAJOR APPLICATION PLANNING TRAINING To take further action to better equip communities regarding the planning process and how to present their case, by continuing to provide and develop specific planning training to Community Councils regarding such major applications, including the use, where appropriate, of Planning Aid for Scotland or other external experts. (4) COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Without ever expressing a prior opinion on the determination of any application, to engage with our communities regarding the anticipated environmental and socio- economic impacts, given that some within our communities are concerned about a wide range of issues, and to review what actions the Council can legally take to further ensure that local community views are considered in the planning process and for Officers to present a paper to the Economy and Infrastructure Committee for consideration prior to the summer recess 2025.