Written Question · S2W-03747 · Session 2
What measures are in place in respect of applications to build wind farms; whether such measures include impact assessments on social and e…
The question
To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place in respect of applications to build wind farms; whether such measures include impact assessments on social and economic criteria, and how many jobs are currently involved in building wind farms.
The answer
The planning regime aims toensure that changes in land use occur in suitable locations and aresustainable. This principle equally underpins determinations on wind farms witha capacity up to 50 Megawatts, which are determined by the planning authorityin terms of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997, anddeterminations on wind farms with a capacity in excess of 50 megawatts whichare determined by the Scottish ministers in terms of section 36 of theElectricity Act 1989.
In arriving at adetermination on a wind farm application, the decision maker, whether it is theplanning authority or the Scottish ministers, will consider a range ofenvironmental, economic and social criteria. On each individual application,the decision maker will assess the weight to be placed on all the materialconsiderations.
Information on the number ofwind farm construction jobs is not collated centrally.
In arriving at adetermination on a wind farm application, the decision maker, whether it is theplanning authority or the Scottish ministers, will consider a range ofenvironmental, economic and social criteria. On each individual application,the decision maker will assess the weight to be placed on all the materialconsiderations.
Information on the number ofwind farm construction jobs is not collated centrally.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S2W-03747 by reference.