Wind energy developments to have new consultation guidance

Local authorities, landowners and developers are to be given new guidance from the Scottish Government on consulting local communities if they propose wind energy developments.

Following a public petition to the Scottish Parliament, ministers have agreed to prepare guidance on good practice community engagement methods for wind energy proposals. A short consultation period has opened on the proposed guidance, which will be finalised in spring 2015.

The public petition was based on concerns that the current publicity requirements for raising awareness of planning applications for wind turbines amongst the wider community were insufficient. The petitioners' focus was especially for proposals for single or a small number of turbines, mainly in more sparsely populated rural areas.

Ministers have decided to issue further guidance rather than pursue legislative change, as proposed in the petition.

Click here to view the consultation. The deadline for responses is 15 December 2014.