Question reference: S6W-06476
- Asked by: Elena Whitham, MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 11 February 2022
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Current status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 8 March 2022
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether the onshore wind turbines planning advice guidance will be updated to reflect considerations for applications for turbines of 200m and over that are in close proximity to individual rural dwellings or settlements, and to require turbines of 150m and over to be illuminated.
Answer
Our Draft National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) sets out how our approach to planning and development will help achieve a net zero, sustainable Scotland by 2045, including through a suite of 35 proposed new or updated national planning policies. Draft policy 19 on green energy supports renewable energy development other than in national parks and national scenic areas, subject to an assessment of impacts on a case by case basis. Criteria for assessing proposals are also set out, including impacts on communities and individual dwellings, as well as on aviation.
We laid the Draft NPF4 in the Scottish Parliament on 10 November 2021. Alongside Parliamentary scrutiny of the draft, we are running a public consultation, supported by an extensive engagement programme, and comments are invited by 31 March 2022. Following this period, we will consider the responses received and any appropriate amendments to the draft NPF4 before presenting a final draft to the Scottish Parliament for its approval, in advance of adoption by the Scottish Ministers.
We will give consideration, once NPF4 has been finalised and adopted, to whether and where our existing suite of planning guidance may need updated or replaced to support NPF4 implementation.