Supplementary Guidance - Renewable & Low Carbon Energy

Purpose and Scope of Guidance

Policy 33 of LDP2 sets out how proposals for Renewable and Low Carbon Energy installations will be assessed. The draft Renewable & Low Carbon Energy Guidance (PDF) [11MB]  contains detailed advice on how applicants should address the criteria of Policy 33 when preparing and submitting applications. The draft guidance covers a range of renewable and low carbon electricity and heat generation technologies.

The draft guidance provides an introduction and guidance to preparing submissions, locational guidance for each technology - including a Spatial Framework for Wind, and Strategic Environmental Sensitivity maps for Wind, Hydropower and Solar PV - and detailed written guidance on how to address the criteria of LDP2. Online versions of the locational guidance will be provided to accompany the guidance to help guide developers to the least sensitive locations.

The guidance will set out a consistent approach to be applied across Perth and Kinross to assist applicants in preparing renewable and low carbon energy development proposals. Once adopted, the SG will form part of the Development Plan as statutory guidance and will be used to assess the acceptability of development proposals.

The Guidance should be read alongside the following documents:

• Renewable and Low Carbon Guidance Technical Note which sets out the background to the strategic environmental sensitivity maps - see SEA Appendix 7 below.

• David Tyldesley Landscape Capacity Study (2010) (PDF) [8MB] which should be used alongside SNH Landscape Character Types and Descriptions to inform landscape studies for renewable applications.

Data

Following adoption of the Guidance spatial layers including the Spatial Framework for Wind, and additional landscape capacity and spatial policy guidance (e.g. environmental sensitivity maps for Group 3 areas only) will be available via a web map currently being developed.

Consultation

The draft guidance was consulted on between 19 August and 30 September 2019. Following consultation, a further review of the guidance will be taken forward in 2022 including consideration of the publication of draft NPF4 which includes an updated policy for 'green energy'. The guidance is anticipated to be adopted in late 2022/early 2023.

Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)

As part of the SEA process, an  Environmental Report (PDF) [4MB] has been prepared for consultation with comments sought between 19 August - 30 September 2019.

The Environmental Report details the Environmental Assessment of the draft Guidance, considering any likely significant environmental effects, and what mitigation measures are required, where necessary. The Environmental Assessment process has also been used to help shape the draft Guidance using Strategic Environmental Sensitivity Mapping, based on a range of environmental factors.

A copy of the Environmental Report and associated documents has been issued to the Scottish Government's SEA Gateway for consultation with the Consultation Authorities, as required under the Environmental Assessment legislation.

Full SEA documents are listed below:

• Appendix 1 - Consultation Authority Comments (PDF) [271KB]
• Appendix 2 - PPS (PDF) [1MB]
• Appendix 3 - Environmental Baseline (PDF) [9MB]
• Appendix 4 - Matrix All Technologies (PDF) [734KB]
• Appendix 5 - Matrix Cumulative (PDF) [439KB]
• Appendix 6 - Monitoring Framework (PDF) [401KB]
• Appendix 7 - Technical Appendix (PDF) [1MB]
• Appendix 8 - Policy 33 of LDP2 (PDF) [454KB]
• Non-Technical Summary (PDF) [2MB]