Question reference: S4W-24126
- Asked by: Michael Russell, MSP for Argyll and Bute, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 22 January 2015
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Current status: Answered by Alex Neil on 4 February 2015
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-24001 by Alex Neil on 21 January 2015, whether it will bring forward proposals to allow the maximum planning fee for a wind farm to be increased to the same level as applied in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Answer
Planning fees and fee maxima in Scotland were subject to an ‘across the board’ increase of approximately 20% in 2013 followed by a further 5% increase in 2014. The Scottish Government is not considering further increases at the present time.
Larger wind farm developments of over 50 megawatt generating capacity are not dealt with through the planning system, but are instead considered under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989. Increasing planning fees would therefore have no impact on the fee payable for such developments.