Planning Conference Programme

The drive to be a net-zero nation by 2045 is the defining challenge of our time and planning is a key mechanism in realising this ambition.

The Scottish Government has promised a planning system fit for net-zero, but we are yet to see significant political progress on these reforms. Time is running out to get the planning system right.

In this session you’ll learn:

• The forces shaping the planning system, the tensions between them and their impact on renewables
• Expert views on what a planning system to enable renewable energy projects at scale and pace needs to deliver
• How we as an industry could respond to changes to the current system

Chair and Welcome
Claire Mack, Chief Executive, Scottish Renewables

Speakers
Lindsay McQuade, CEO, ScottishPower Renewables
Neil Collar, Partner/ Head of Planning Law, Brodies LLP Solicitors
Scott Vallance, Senior Project Manager, Statkraft
Andy Sloan, Head of Consents Strategy, SSE Renewables

Q & A

With onshore renewables doing the heavy lifting in decarbonising our energy supply between now and 2030, we have a lot to achieve in just eight years.

Onshore consents take up to seven years, so net-zero cannot be achieved with current decision-making timescales. A planning system for net-zero needs to deliver consents predictably, consistently but most of all quickly.

In this session you’ll learn:

• The key points in the planning system that lengthen the decision-making process
• The capacity and pace that is needed to achieve deployment levels consistent with net-zero
• Key industry ideas to take to Government on how planning timescales can be reduced

Chair
Morag Watson, Director of Policy, Scottish Renewables

Speakers
William Black, Deputy Director Onshore Electricity Policy, Strategic Co-ordination & Energy Consents, The Scottish Government
Kirsten Rae, Project Manager, ScottishPower Renewables
Robbie Calvert, Policy, Practice and Research Officer, Royal Town Planning Institute
Gary McGovern, Planning Partner, Pinsent Masons LLP

Q & A

The Scottish Government promised a rebalancing of the planning system so the need to address climate change would be a guiding principle in all decision-making. But there is little evidence of this in the draft NPF4 and even less clarity on what it means in practice.

Net-zero cannot be achieved if other issues continue to be treated as equally important. We need to address the issue of a hierarchy within planning decision making.

In this session you’ll learn:

• The key issues currently at play in the planning balance
• The scale of the change needed to genuinely rebalance the system
• Key industry recommendations to Government on how planning can be rebalanced

Chair
Claire Mack, Chief Executive, Scottish Renewables

Speakers
Craig Whelton, Consenting Lawyer, Burges Salmon
Sarah Dooley, Principal Project Development Manager, EDF Renewables UK
David Bell, Director, David Bell Planning Ltd

Q & A

Despite widespread public support for onshore wind, the issue of visual impact continues to be a key deciding factor in planning decisions.

Accommodating 12GW more onshore wind in our landscape by 2030 to achieve net-zero means it will be visible. We need to address visual impact and where it fits in achieving our net-zero goal.

In this session you’ll learn:

• The extent to which visual impact influences planning decisions
• The changing face of wind farms – tip heights, clusters, lighting and more
• Expert views on where we go next with visual impact

Chair
Morag Watson, Director of Policy, Scottish Renewables

Speakers
Euan Hutchison, Consenting Associate Director, Locogen
Finley Becks-Phelps, UK Development Director, Fred. Olsen Renewables
Tatiana White, Associate, ASH Design + Assessment Ltd
Colin Innes, Partner, Planning and Environment, Shepherd and Wedderburn LLP

Q & A

Closing Remarks
Morag Watson, Director of Policy, Scottish Renewables