LDP Evidence Report - Energy

This survey is now closed.

This survey has been prepared to assist with the formulation of the Aberdeenshire Local Development Plan Evidence Report.

This questionnaire focuses on questions associated with the Energy Topic Paper.

The paper focusses on what the data and evidence tells us about the opportunities and constraints for energy development in order to meet the requirements of National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) Policy 11 ‘Energy’. This sets out a policy intent to encourage, promote and facilitate all forms of renewable, low carbon and zero emissions technologies, and those works which enable such proposals.

Local Development Plans (LDP) are required to seek to realise their area's full potential for electricity and heat from renewable, low carbon and zero emission sources by identifying a range of opportunities for energy development.

This topic paper considers the national policy and strategic context for meeting energy targets. The significant infrastructural challenges and changes, and the spatial implications for Aberdeenshire, are highlighted. It is emphasised that the role of a local authority is as a consultee and not a decision maker for national/major planning applications, and this needs to be taken into consideration. The paper concludes that whilst national infrastructure should respect the proximity of existing settlements, it needs to recognised that the siting of energy infrastructure is likely to impact on locations suitable for new housing developments. It is however also concluded that the LDP can have a role with regard to mitigations by making it explicit that landscaping, biodiversity enhancement and compensatory planting must be appropriately sited for all types of energy infrastructure development.

It is likely that this paper will be of interest to most communities, and developers and landowners with an interest in energy development, and the infrastructure. 

If there are matters that you do not agree with relating to the information that we have looked at, then these are termed as "disputes". While most disputes made will be resolvable by modification of the topic paper, some will persist. If you make a dispute to this paper, and we cannot agree a solution then the dispute will be referred to a Reporter in the Scottish Government Directorate of Planning and Environmental Appeals in the Spring of 2025. Otherwise comments that you may make to this paper will be analysed and where possible resolution sought before consideration by Aberdeenshire Council, probably in January 2025.

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WHILE WE DO NOT INTEND TO PUBLISH THE INDIVIDUAL SUBMISSIONS MADE, THEY WILL BECOME PART OF THE PUBLIC RECORD. ALL UNRESOLVED DISPUTES WILL BE PUBLISHED ON THE INTERNET AS PART OF THE GATECHECK EXAMINATION.