Community benefits from net zero energy developments consultation: engagement findings report
Report by the Scottish Community Development Centre, commissioned by the Scottish Government, on findings from community engagement undertaken as part of our consultation on Community Benefits from Net Zero Energy Developments.
4. Conclusion
The community conversations offered a valuable opportunity for individuals and groups to share their experiences, concerns, and aspirations regarding community benefits from renewable energy developments. While the findings represent a snapshot of community voices rather than a comprehensive national view, these discussions provide rich, place-based insights that will help inform the Scottish Government’s review of the Good Practice Principles.
Participants welcomed the opportunity to contribute and expressed a strong desire for their voices to be reflected in future policy and practice. While the scale and nature of developments varied across locations, there was a shared commitment to ensuring that community benefits are accessible, transparent, and responsive to local needs.
The conversations highlighted both the positive impacts of community benefit schemes, such as supporting local projects and enabling community-led initiatives, and the challenges that require to be addressed to maximise their potential. These include administrative burdens, volunteer capacity, clarity around eligibility, and the need for consistent and fair engagement with developers.
As well as sharing their experiences of community benefits, participants provided suggestions for improvements to help shape the review and communities demonstrated a clear willingness to take an active role in negotiating and managing community benefit schemes. With appropriate support and guidance, community benefits can be a powerful tool for strengthening resilience, promoting inclusion, and supporting long-term sustainability.
The findings from these conversations will feed into the wider consultation process and contribute to the development of refreshed Good Practice Principles by the Scottish Government.
SCDC and the Scottish Government would like to extend our sincere thanks to all participants who contributed their time, insights, and experiences to this engagement process.