Planning Committee
23rd November 2010
Agenda Item No 6
Wind Energy Supplementary Planning Guidance
Report by: Keith Winter- Head of Development Services
Wards Affected: Applicable to all
Purpose
Fife Council produced Wind Energy Supplementary Planning Guidance which was approved
in 2008. Since then there have been changes to planning policy nationally and within Fife’s
approved Structure Plan. There has also been an increase in the number of proposals for
wind turbine developments of differing scales and types in Fife.
This report recommends updates to Fife’s Wind Energy Supplementary Planning Guidance,
through does not propose any changes to the existing areas of search.
One of Fife Council’s ‘Big 8’ priorities is to become Scotland’s “Leading Green Council”. A
major aspect in meeting this aspiration will be to encourage the development of renewable
energy technologies in Fife. Fife must have robust and efficient guidance in place to ensure
that wind energy developments can be accommodated and are guided to the right locations.
Recommendation(s)
It is recommended that Committee:


Approve the draft updated Supplementary Planning Guidance.
Remit the Head of Development Services to consult on the draft Guidance and report
back to Planning Committee in June 2011 with a finalised version of the document.
Resource Implications
There are no significant resource implications in updating the Wind Energy Guidance.
Development Services will be required to resource the implementation of the Supplementary
Planning Guidance and the costs for the document will be met from the existing
Development Services revenue budget.
The guidance will impact on future carbon emissions for Fife, through influencing the siting
and approval of wind turbines.
Legal & Risk Implications
There are no legal or risk implications related to the proposed review of the Supplementary
Planning Guidance.
Policy & Impact Assessment
Fife Council is required by Scottish Planning Policy to identify areas of search for the
development of wind turbines in its development plans and to support the development of
renewable energy generation through a variety of technologies.
Consultation
The following have been consulted in preparation of this report:
1. The Executive Director of Finance and Resources
2. The Executive Director of Performance and Organisational Support
3. The Head of Environmental Services
4. The Head of Transportation Services
Following approval by Committee, the updated draft of the Supplementary Planning
Guidance will be taken through a period of consultation with key stakeholders, developers,
environmental groups and the general public. A report on the consultation and the final draft
of the document will be brought back for the consideration of the Planning Committee
following the consultation period, which will likely be summer 2011.
1.0 Background
1.1
Fife Council produced detailed Wind Energy Supplementary Planning Guidance
(SPG) in 2008. The guidance provided Fife Council with a robust and defensible set of
policies and guidance which have been used for determining Wind Turbine
applications.
1.2
Fife Council commissioned external consultants to undertake a study on Fife’s
landscape capacity to accommodate wind turbine developments. ASH design and
assessment produced a detailed report, supported by mapping, which determined the
locations in Fife that could accommodate wind turbine developments of differing
scales and heights. It also identified the sensitive areas of the Fife landscape where
development was likely to have a significant impact. The information from this study
was used to inform the preferred areas of search for wind turbine developments within
the approved SPG.
1.3
Since the SPG was approved in 2008 a number of changes have taken place, most
notably, the approval of the Fife Structure Plan and a revision of Scottish Planning
Policy. Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) requires planning authorities to support the
development of wind farms in locations where the technology can operate efficiently
and environmental and cumulative impacts can be satisfactorily addressed.
1.4
The Fife Structure Plan, which was approved in May 2009, contains Policy R1- Wind
Turbines. This sets out the criteria for determining wind turbine applications in Fife
and replaced an earlier wind energy policy. This earlier policy remains within the 2008
SPG document. Therefore the existing main policy within the SPG is no longer
relevant in the determining of applications for Wind Turbine proposals as this is now
superseded by Policy R1 in the Structure Plan.
1.5
Since this time an increasing number of enquiries and planning applications have
been received by Development Services for wind turbine developments of different
scales. This is presenting a number of challenges which will require to be addressed,
such as the prospect of developing single turbines in urban areas as well as rural
locations and the cumulative impacts of multiple proposals being brought forward for
consideration. There is therefore a need to update the 2008 guidance to ensure it is in
line with planning policy, allows these issues to be properly addressed and is robust
to allow Development Services to properly assess proposals when they are
submitted.
1.6
The areas of search in the SPG are based on a landscape study carried out by ASH
consultancy. This technical work is still seen as being robust and therefore the areas
of search are not being altered through the current SPG review.
2.0 Issues and Options
2.1
Planning Policy
2.1.1 In response to the changes outlined in Section One the Head of Development
Services has produced an updated draft Wind Energy SPG. Hard copies of this have
been made available in the member’s lounges for consideration. An electronic version
of the document can also be accessed on the internal FISH directory. The ASH study
which provides the basis for the areas of search is available in CD format on request.
2.1.2 The existing Wind Energy SPG was subject of a Strategic Environmental Assessment
(SEA) prior to its approval and therefore the likely environmental effects of the
document have already been assessed. The Scottish Government and the three key
agencies; Historic Scotland, Scottish Environmental Protection Agency and Scottish
Natural Heritage have all agreed that an Environmental Assessment of the proposed
guidance update is not required, as there are no alterations to the land-use elements
proposed in the update of the document.
2.1.3 The main updates to the wind energy guidance include:

Update of policies following approval of the Fife Structure Plan;

Providing further detailed information on the feed-in tariff and on specific wind
project types;

Further guidance on the issue of cumulative impacts;

Wind turbines in urban areas;

Community wind projects;

Policy issues relating to offshore wind developments;

Linkages between wind energy and economic development opportunities in
Fife;

Increased upfront emphasis on Fife’s environmental constraints, followed by
information on the different scales of wind turbine developments.

Other changes which bring the SPG up to date by referencing the recent SPP,
or updating agency details.
2.1.4 It is not proposed to alter the areas of search for wind turbine development identified
in the existing SPG. The landscape issues and relevant considerations identified in
the ASH design and assessment report have not changed since 2006.
3.0 Conclusions
3.1
With all planning guidance, it is important that it is updated to reflect the changes in
National policy or technical issues. There have been significant changes in the issues
relating to renewables in recent years.
3.2
Also Fife is also taking an increasing pro active role in the promotion of renewables
and the harnessing of the economic benefits of the renewables industry for the Fife
economy.
3.3
With this context it is appropriate that the Fife Wind Energy Supplementary Planning
Guidance it updated.
Background Papers
The following papers were relied on in the preparation of this report in terms of the
Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1973:

Wind Energy Supplementary Planning Guidance- Fife Council- April 2008

Identifying Areas of Search for Groups of Wind Turbines in Fife- ASH Design &
Assessment 2006
Report Contact
Michael Westwater
Planner
Strategic Policy & Tourism
Telephone: 08451 555555 + 442397
Email – michael.westwater@fife.gov.uk