Wind turbine development applications: EIR release

Information requested

1. Number of applications made for wind turbine developments (covering as far back as records go).

2. Number of opposing and supporting representations in each case.

3. Whether those applications were approved or denied.

Response

As the information you have requested is ‘environmental information’ for the purposes of the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (EIRs), we are required to deal with your request under those Regulations. We are applying the exemption at section 39(2) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA), so that we do not also have to deal with your request under FOISA.

This exemption is subject to the ‘public interest test’. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption, because there is no public interest in dealing with the same request under two different regimes. This is essentially a technical point and has no material effect on the outcome of your request.

To best answer your request, we have provided a spreadsheet which contains both ‘Decided applications’ and ‘Active applications’ with a breakdown of the relevant figures. We have not provided the numbers of representations received for the active applications as representations may still be received.

Most wind farm applications submitted to Scottish Ministers are made under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 however within the spreadsheet we have indicated that some applications are made under section 36C of the Electricity Act 1989. Section 36C would apply where a change is proposed to an existing section 36 consent that is not considered as being a substantial/fundamental change. Additionally we have indicated which active applications are currently at a Public Local Inquiry (PLI) Stage.

For more information on the types of applications we receive and the stages they can be at please see the link below. I have also included a link to the Electricity Act 1989:

• Electricity Act 1989 - sections 36 and 37: applications guidance - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
• Electricity Act 1989 (legislation.gov.uk)

Finally, please be aware that our answers to your questions do not include offshore wind farms as these applications are consented by a different department. If you are interested in knowing more about offshore wind farms please contact MD.MarineRenewables@gov.scot

Please see below, the answers to your questions. The information provided relates to determinations made between 23/07/2007 to 11/01/2024:

Number of applications made for wind turbine developments (covering as far back as records go) = 243 (including 71 active cases).

Number of opposing and supporting representations in each case: Please see attached spreadsheet.

Whether those applications were approved or denied: Please see attached spreadsheet.

Please note, much of the information that we have sourced to provide these answers can be accessed on Renewable Energy Planning Database: quarterly extract - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.

EIR 202400391731 - Information Released - Annex

File type

Excel document

File size

23.0 kB