Supporting Document for Proposed Local Development Plan 2015 East Dunbartonshire Evidence Report 7: Wind Energy Framework Strategic Environmental Assessment: Environment Report Action Programme Habitats Regulations Appraisal Equality Impact Assessment Policy Background Reports Evidence Report 1: Addressing Housing Need and Demand in East Dunbartonshire Evidence Report 2: Housing Land Audit 2014 Evidence Report 3: Site Assessments Evidence Report 4: Campsie Fells Statement of Importance Evidence Report 5: Kilpatrick Hills Statement of Importance Evidence Report 6: Retail Capacity Assessment Evidence Report 7: Wind Energy Framework Evidence Report 7: Spatial Framework for Wind Energy Spatial Framework for Wind Energy Development Contents 1. Introduction 2. Scottish Planning Policy 3. Glasgow & Clyde Valley Strategic Development Plan 4. Landscape Capacity Study for Wind Turbine Development in Glasgow & the Clyde Valley (Clydeplan) 5. Definition of Onshore Wind Energy Development 6. Local Development Plan Proposed Plan Policy 15, Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Technology 6.1 The Spatial Framework for Wind Energy 6.2 Other Policy Criteria, Including Landscape and Visual Impacts 7. Other Sources of Information Appendix 1: The Spatial Framework for Wind Energy Map Appendix 2: Other References 1 Evidence Report 7: Spatial Framework for Wind Energy 1. Introduction This report sets out the national, strategic and current local planning policy context for onshore wind energy developments and other sources of information. It also identifies Clydeplan’s definition of different types of wind turbine development. It provides technical background information on the planning considerations for a spatial framework for wind energy development as required by Scottish Planning Policy. This framework forms part of the proposed Local Development Plan (LDP) Policy 15: Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Technology. 2. Scottish Planning Policy The Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) 2014, Principal Policy for Sustainability sets out policy principles including: supporting delivery of infrastructure, including energy; supporting climate change mitigation; avoiding over-development, protecting the amenity of new and existing development. SPP, Principal Policy on Placemaking sets the policy for development in green belts. It states in para 52 that LDPs should describe the types and scales of development which would be appropriate within a green belt. It states that this can include development meeting a national requirement or established need, if no other suitable site is available. It does not however mention renewable energy directly as an appropriate development in the green belt. In addition green belt is not identified as a planning consideration for the spatial framework for wind energy, see table 1 below. SPP has a section on low carbon place, delivering heat and electricity. It contains policy principles which support the transformational change to a low carbon economy, consistent with national objectives and targets, including the equivalent of 100% of electricity demand from renewable sources by 2020; support the development of a diverse range of electricity generation from renewable energy technologies - including the expansion of renewable energy generation capacity. It states that Development Plans should seek to ensure an area's full potential for electricity and heat from renewable sources is achieved, in line with national climate change targets, giving due regard to relevant environmental, community and cumulative impact considerations. SPP has a section on onshore wind, paragraphs 161 to 166, which states “Planning authorities should set out in the development plan a spatial framework identifying those areas that are likely to be most appropriate for onshore wind farms as a guide for developers and communities, following the approach set out below. Development plans should indicate the minimum scale of onshore wind development that their spatial framework is intended to apply to. Development plans should also set out the criteria that 2 Evidence Report 7: Spatial Framework for Wind Energy will be considered in deciding all applications for wind farms of different scales - including extensions and re-powering.” “Both strategic and local development plan authorities, working together where required, should identify where there is strategic capacity for wind farms, and areas with the greatest potential for wind development, considering cross-boundary constraints and opportunities. Strategic development planning authorities are expected to take the lead in dealing with cross-boundary constraints and opportunities and will coordinate activity with constituent planning authorities.” “The approach to spatial framework preparation set out in the SPP should be followed in order to deliver consistency nationally and additional constraints should not be applied at this stage. The spatial framework is complemented by a more detailed and exacting development management process where the merits of an individual proposal will be carefully considered against the full range of environmental, community, and cumulative impacts.” Table 1: Spatial Frameworks identifies the planning considerations that should be considered in a framework. It identifies three groups, including: 1. Areas where wind farms will not be acceptable 2. Areas of significant protection 3. Areas with potential for wind farm development. SPP notes that grid capacity should not be used as a reason to constrain the areas identified for wind farm development or decisions on individual applications for wind farms. It is for wind farm developers to discuss connections to the grid with the relevant transmission network operator. Consideration should be given to underground grid connections where possible. It also highlights that proposals for onshore wind turbine developments should continue to be determined while spatial frameworks and local policies are being prepared and updated. Moratoria on onshore wind development are not appropriate. 3. Glasgow & Clyde Valley Strategic Development Plan The Strategic Development Plan (SDP), 2012, Strategy Support Measure 9 notes that “Low carbon economic growth requires that indigenous supplies of natural resources continue to be developed and that, where feasible, a phased programme of development be established through the life of the plan. Broad areas of search for wind energy have been outlined in the Spatial Development Strategy and it will be for LDPs to take forward the refinement of these areas to establish their long term potential.” 3 Evidence Report 7: Spatial Framework for Wind Energy The SDP reflects the context of a low carbon future and protects important natural environments by defining search areas for wind farm developments of 20 Megawatts (MW) generating capacity, see Diagram 16. Background Report 11 Wind Energy Search Areas sets out the methodology for this. There are no broad areas of search in East Dunbartonshire. The new Clydeplan SDP, Main Issues Report (MIR) was published in January 2015. It identifies issue 2 – supporting a low carbon economy. The preferred option is set out below and no reasonable alternative option is proposed. The preferred option is: “Develop a spatial framework using the approach set out in SPP, update the existing SDP1 policy and take account of the landscape capacity study to ensure a consistent approach is taken across the city region. This takes account of SPP, updates environmental information and provides a new policy approach.” The Clydeplan MIR is supported by SDP MIR Background Paper 9, Jan 2015, Wind Energy Development in Glasgow & the Clyde Valley, which refines the existing methodology in line with Scottish Planning Policy. This refers to the Landscape Capacity Study for Wind Turbine Development produced by Clydeplan in consultation with Scottish Natural Heritage and the eight Clydeplan local authorities. The outputs of the study include an overview report and eight local authority reports. 4. Landscape Capacity Study for Wind Turbine Development in Glasgow & the Clyde Valley (Clydeplan) The aim of this study was to provide a strategic view of landscape sensitivity to wind energy development, and available capacity for further development, across the Glasgow and the Clyde Valley SDP area. It also examined cumulative development within the landscape, which crosses local authority boundaries. The study established that there is residual capacity in some lower sensitivity landscapes, but that the capacity threshold is being approached in others. It is recognised that the application of this study will be a consideration for LDPs and Development Management. The study found that the majority of the landscapes within East Dunbartonshire are of moderate sensitivity to wind turbine development. However, it was judged that the sensitivity of the Campsie Fells and Kilpatrick Hills was higher, and their prominent edges were considered to be a key factor determining the sensitivity of the wider landscape. The escarpment of the Campsie Fells in particular has an important relationship with the adjacent Glazert Valley, as well as with the lower land to the south and, by extension, with the Clyde basin as a whole. The study also noted the importance of the Antonine Wall and Forth and Clyde Canal. The capacity of the East Dunbartonshire landscape is considered to be limited, with opportunities generally restricted to smaller single-turbine developments, carefully sited to avoid impacts on the key prominent