Supporting documents - Renfrewshire Council

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GLENLORA WIND TURBINE
considering renewable energy policies in development plans, and when considering applications
for planning permission which come before them on appeal or call‐in.”
The 2010 target was achieved before the publication of SPP 6 in 2007 and it was the
intention of SPP 6 to facilitate successful achievement of the 2020 target, quantified as
6 GigaWatts (GW) of installed renewables capacity and it was confirmed that this
target should not be regarded as a cap. In November 2007 the Scottish Government
announced an increase in the 2020 target to 50%, with an interim target of 31% by
2011.
The SPP states that support for renewable energy and the need to protect and
enhance Scotlands natural and historic environment should be considered as
compatible goals. Further it states that:
‘The planning system has a significant role to play in resolving conflicts so that progress towards
the 2020 target continues to be made in a way that affords appropriate protection to the
natural and historic environment without unreasonably restricting the potential for renewable
energy development’.
The SPP reinforces the primacy of the development plan in the planning process and
provides a general policy background to support the development plan.
The SPP contains a set of guiding principles to ensure the planning system plays its part
in supporting the Government’s commitment to the climate change programme:
“The Scottish Ministers expect planning authorities to make positive provision for
renewable energy developments by:
supporting a diverse range of renewable energy technologies including
encouraging the development of emerging and new technologies;
recognising the importance of fully engaging with local communities and other
stakeholders at all stages of the planning process;
guiding development to appropriate locations and providing clarity on the
issues that will be taken into account when assessing specific proposals; and
maximising environmental, economic and social benefits;
while, at the same time:
meeting international and national statutory obligations to protect designated
areas, species and habitats and protecting the historic environment from
inappropriate forms of development; and
ensuring impacts on local communities and other interests are satisfactorily
addressed. Such interests will vary from technology to technology.”
The SPP notes that, particularly in rural areas, there is the potential for community
projects where local projects are developed for local benefit. Small scale wind farms
are particularly identified as an opportunity in this respect. It goes on to stress that:
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