Chamber and committees

There is an option in the current mainstreaming primary prevention consultation paper for these checks to be five yearly.

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/07/03153034/0.

Most of the changes to the planning system came into force on 3 August 2009 and, for the most part, apply only to planning applications or appeals made on or after that date.

Planning application procedures only apply to proposed wind farms up to 50 megawatts, while proposed developments exceeding 50 megawatts are determined under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 by the Scottish Ministers. Accordingly, the Scottish Government Energy Consents Unit have revised the pre-application scoping process for developers. This fresh approach re-emphasises the need to focus on early engagement and on efforts to assist the developer in identifying the key environmental issues of their proposal by drawing on the knowledge and experience of local authorities, Scottish Environment Protection Agency and Scottish Natural Heritage and other bodies such as the Forestry Commission at pre-application stage thereby reducing the need for later alterations that could lead to delay. The introduction of focussed and specific gate-checking meetings has been warmly received by planning authorities and other consultees. Gate-checking is carried out following receipt of an applicant''s Environmental Statement and allows the parties involved to test understanding and clarify issues directly with the developer. It has proven to be particularly useful when dealing with complex, large scale applications.

With reference to The Press and Journal article of 10 June 2010 regarding Calliachar, the earlier decision related to an application made under the Electricity Act, with the current application being subject to a planning decision by the Scottish Ministers under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997. A decision on the case will be made as soon as possible.

Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) was launched on 4 February 2010 and includes the Scottish Government''s planning policies on the siting of wind farms. The SPP is part of the recent reforms to the planning system and states that planning authorities should prepare spatial frameworks for wind farms in their development plans. Development plans will be reviewed on a five-yearly cycle providing more confidence to investors, communities and to planning authorities in the decision making process. The SPP is available on the Scottish Government''s website:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/02/03132605/0.

Planning Advice Note 45 Renewable Energy Technologies is currently being reviewed to provide up-to-date advice, signposting sources of technical guidance and the latest good practice approaches.