Current status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 3 November 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to update planning or consenting guidance to ensure that the impact on private water supplies are classed as a material consideration in planning applications under sections 36 and 37 of the Electricity Act 1989.
The Scottish Government processes section 36 and 37 applications in accordance with the relevant legislation and regulatory frameworks. Our Good Practice Guidance for developers, which is available to view on Scottish Government webpages, sets out procedures and advice for projects requiring an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). As part of the EIA process, developers are required to identify and assess any private water supplies in the vicinity of the proposed development that could potentially be affected by the works.