12 Mar 2025
Wind farm approvals are set to speed up in Scotland in a move from Labour and SNP which has sparked concern across rural communities in the Borders.
This week the UK government promised to “unleash seismic reforms” to the planning system with the new the Planning and Infrastructure Bill which will drastically reduce approval times for new large electricity projects in Scotland.
Communities across the Borders, who have already witnessed the proliferation of wind farms in their countryside, are now worried about what the implications will be from this new legislation which will effectively fast-track the planning process.
We know the targets are aggressive – both the UK and Scottish governments plan to double onshore wind capacity by 2030. However, the introduction of this new bill could have the potential to marginalise or ignore local interests.
Michael Shanks, the UK energy minister, claims that community voices will be heard earlier in the process, but what does that actually mean? They say that developers must engage with local communities before submitting their application but the quality of that engagement, and the extent to which they incorporate this feedback, is a concern.
The legislation also gives SNP ministers new powers to allow the Scottish Government to revoke or vary planning consents for energy infrastructure projects in certain cases. This means that changes can be made without the developer restarting the process and objectors will only have six weeks to appeal it.
Minister Shanks, said: “These reforms will end avoidable delays by making the application process more efficient and reducing the need for costly, lengthy public inquiries which hold up the clean power projects we need to deliver more renewable electricity and strengthen our energy security.”
But Douglas Lumsden, the Scottish Tories’ shadow net zero and energy secretary, said: “Communities up and down Scotland will be dismayed that Labour and the SNP are working hand in hand and continuing with their proposals to ride roughshod over local opinion.
“Both governments are completely disconnected when it comes to realising the impact railroading through certain projects would have on rural Scotland in particular.
“It is typical of them to believe they know best and it confirms this so-called consultation was nothing more than a tick-box exercise.”
The Planning and Infrastructure Bill can be found here: https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3946