Chamber and committees

Given the range of stakeholders affected by the proposed reform to the consenting process, both governments agreed that a public consultation was essential ahead of any legislation.

Designing any monitoring and evaluation mechanism at this time would be pre-empt responses received and their impact on any actual changes that may be implemented.

The Energy Consents Unit continually assess how the application process can be made more efficient and effective. The proposed reforms have been identified through these efforts as ways in which the process could be streamlined and modernised.

Local Authorities are a key stakeholder in the consenting process.

The ‘Verity House Agreement’ and the ‘New Deal for Business’ have set out how the Scottish Government intends to work collaboratively with local authorities and others to deliver a just transition to net zero.

The reform process launched by this consultation creates an opportunity to re-set the expectations on the bodies providing essential support to the application process, taking account of their views, suggestions and their specific circumstances.

The Scottish Government is committed to early and meaningful community consultation. It is important that communities and stakeholders are appropriately engaged throughout the pre application and application journey.

As noted in the answer provided for S6W-31574 on 4 December 2024, resourcing requirements for the Energy Consents Unit are kept under review, with a view to addressing the expected intake of applications.

Introducing fees for pre-application activities will allow the Energy Consents Unit to be adequately resourced to administer any increases in pre-application activities.

All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

The proposed reforms are about making the consideration and determination process more efficient, not making it easier for projects to get consent or to reduce the overall quality of decision-making in the consenting process.

Scottish Water are a key stakeholder in the consenting process.

The ‘Verity House Agreement’ and the ‘New Deal for Business’ have set out how the Scottish Government intends to work collaboratively with local authorities and others to deliver a just transition to net zero.

The reform process launched by this consultation creates an opportunity to re-set the expectations on the bodies providing essential support to the application process, taking account of their views, suggestions and their specific circumstances.

Scottish Environment Protection Agency are a key stakeholder in the consenting process.

The ‘Verity House Agreement’ and the ‘New Deal for Business’ have set out how the Scottish Government intends to work collaboratively with local authorities and others to deliver a just transition to net zero.

The reform process launched by this consultation creates an opportunity to re-set the expectations on the bodies providing essential support to the application process, taking account of their views, suggestions and their specific circumstances.

Transport Scotland are a key stakeholder in the consenting process.

The ‘Verity House Agreement’ and the ‘New Deal for Business’ have set out how the Scottish Government intends to work collaboratively with local authorities and others to deliver a just transition to net zero.

The reform process launched by this consultation creates an opportunity to re-set the expectations on the bodies providing essential support to the application process, taking account of their views, suggestions and their specific circumstances.

The proposed reforms provide additional community and stakeholder consultation at pre application stage and do not reduce the level of consultation currently required when an application is submitted.

The consultation proposes new standardised processes for both onshore and offshore developers to engage with local communities and stakeholders before applying to the Scottish Government for new energy infrastructure.

At present, the Electricity Act has no provisions that compel developers to notify or consult communities or stakeholders before an application is submitted to Scottish Ministers.

This means the public and communities could remain unaware of proposed projects until an application is submitted.

Many developers do consult communities, but the approach is variable – which undermines public confidence and makes the applications more complex.

The consultation suggests a duty to consult communities and other statutory bodies – such as the planning authority – before an application is made.

It also proposes that a “statement of community consultation” is submitted with an application. This would set out how the public will be able to submit views on the development and how those will be considered in the final application.

The consultation also proposes the submission of a final consultation report setting out the steps taken to engage the public and how those views have been considered.