
22 Jan 2025
The views of communities need to be taken seriously when it comes to the consenting process for renewable energy infrastructure – this was the resounding message from today’s debate in Holyrood which was led by Douglas Lumsden MSP.
The debate was raised in response to the opening of a new government consultation last year to speed up the planning process for large-scale energy projects in Scotland which risks silencing the voices of communities by removing the right to a public inquiry on consenting decisions.
The reforms put forward by the UK and Scottish governments in this consultation will supposedly give communities ‘early’ and ‘meaningful’ opportunities to be heard, but the question is, will they actually be listened to? This is a fundamental question which cannot be answered and became apparent during the debate between the different parties.
Douglas Lumsden MSP accused the Scottish government of being asleep at the wheel, and said that there is no clear strategy when it comes to renewable energy development.
The reality is that more and more wind farms, battery storage facilities and pylons are being consented, yet the number of projects actually required, and their associated cumulative effect, has not been properly measured. The pipeline of provision with regards to wind farms and battery storage facilities is already well above what is required, and the grid as it stands cannot cope.
When developments are submitted to Scottish Ministers via the Energy Consents Unit (ECU), often councillors aren’t even asked their opinion – so it’s no wonder communities up and down the country are saying that enough is enough.
Even when project does go to a public inquiry, NPF4 will always guide decision making in favour of all forms of renewable development. The top down approach must come to an end.
The eight-turbine Wull Muir Wind Farm which was given planning approval this month is the perfect example. This is a development which has received widespread and robust opposition from the local community and had already been rejected by council three times – yet, in spite of this, it was given the green light. This is not listening to or respecting the interests of the community. Relatively small in scale, it is not even a wind farm of national or strategic importance.
The value to homes, disruption to businesses, and loss of prime agricultural land is being ignored in favour of hitting renewable energy targets. The deep pockets and powerful interests of developers, as a result, are benefiting at the expense of Scotland’s rural communities.
Of course we need renewable energy, but we can’t help get the impression there is a stampede towards renewable energy where nothing can get in the way.
At the end of the debate a vote was cast and Lumsden’s motion was defeated – 83 voted for, 35 voted against and 7 abstentions. Whilst he didn’t win, this debate has highlighted some serious and important issues.
There needs to be common sense and a degree of accountability. The reality is that many communities feel that Labour and SNP governments are blinkered in their approach. They are running full steam ahead towards a just transition and, as a result, the voices of communities all over Scotland are not being heard or respected.
The full transcript can be read here: https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16212