Concerns over “postcode lottery” for small-scale renewables
Wednesday 10 February 2010
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| Philip Lewis of Atmos has claimed community-led renewable energy proposals may be at risk |
Small-scale renewables projects in Scotland are subject to a "postcode lottery" under the country's updated planning system, planning consultants have warned.
Philip Lewis, principal planner with Edinburgh-based Atmos Consulting, has claimed that the Scottish Government's target of supplying 40% of Scotland's energy from renewable sources by 2020 could be endangered by new decision-making procedures.
He said that under the new system, which was implemented six months ago, local authorities have greater power over ‘local developments' - projects less than 20MW - and less community-led renewable energy projects may be built as a result.
Mr Lewis said that the threat of a ‘planning postcode lottery' existed because of the varied processes used by each local authority.
Under the new planning system some local authorities are not delegating powers to planning officers as designed, but have opted to continue to decide the more contentious planning applications through the traditional committee systems.
"These variations in approach will inevitably lead to differences in the types and amounts of developments being permitted across Scotland, with some local authorities leaving it to others to pick up our renewable energy supply," he said.
Furthermore, Mr Lewis expressed concern that most ‘local developments' are likely to be determined by council officers under delegated powers.
The right of appeal is then to a local review body of the same council, made up of Councillors, rather than an independent appeal to Scottish Ministers . A similar arrangement was rejected in England due to concerns that it might compromise hearings.
"Developers will be concerned that the new system may not deliver fair public hearings by independent and impartial tribunals, given that council officers and the local review body are part of the same local authority," Mr Lewis said.
"This could lead to fewer renewable energy developers opting to invest in Scotland, which would have detrimental effects for the economy and our renewable energy targets."
He added: "The principal aims of the new planning system, namely to speed up and improve the decision-making process, are to be welcomed, but there are concerns in the renewable energy industry that the new system will create a planning postcode lottery, as well as reduce the number of community-led renewable energy projects being granted."
Government
However, the Scottish Government rejected claims that the system would delay or prohibit small scale renewables and said it was entirely "appropriate" that decisions that affect communities are made by local planners.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: "Planning is largely a local authority function. It is perfectly appropriate that local decisions are taken on local projects and applications.
"This should help produce faster decisions and greater efficiency in Scotland's planning system - something the Scottish Government is working with planning authorities to achieve."
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