What action it is taking to uphold the commitments of the 2023 Scottish Onshore Wind Sector Deal, including the 12-month and 24-month deter…

In recent years, the Energy Consents Unit (ECU) has undergone significant recruitment and training to bolster the workforce and match the rising demand in applications. In addition, the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 provided Scottish Ministers with new regulation-making powers that seek to streamline the consenting process. We will consult later this year on how we intend to use these powers, with findings informing secondary legislation. Taken together, these actions will help Ministers meet our ambitions for faster decision-making timescales of onshore wind applications.The Onshore Wind Sector Deal included the ambition that from 2025 we would aim to determine section 36 applications for new sites and for the re-powering of existing operational sites within 12 months, or 24 months if there is a Public Local Inquiry (PLI). We remain committed to this ambition, ensuring that the energy consenting process delivers timely results and takes a pragmatic approach.Between January 2025 and June 2026, the ECU received 46 onshore wind applications. By 14 July 2026, at the time of answering:none of these applications have been determined27 applications can no longer meet the 12 month determination timescale19 applications remain within 12 month determination timescaleall applications still remain within the 24 month determination timescale (where a PLI may be required)This summer, the ECU will publish an Annual Report for the first time which will include data and performance monitoring associated with their work. The report will provide further analysis relating to the factors which impact determination timescales.