Natural Heritage Guidance and Information. 6 th of December 2007 Brendan Turvey

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1 Natural Heritage Guidance and Information 6 th of December 2007 Brendan Turvey

2 Outline Guidance available New guidance Guidance in the pipeline Revision of SLG Sitelink / Natural spaces Wind farm footprint map Biomass and Hydro issues Engaging with SNH

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4 Existing guidance - general SNH Policy on Renewable Energy (2001) Energy and the Natural Heritage (2006) SNH Renewable Energy Service Level Statement (2004) Strategic Locational Guidance for onshore wind farms in respect of the natural heritage (2005) Cumulative Effects of Windfarms (2005)

5 Birds Survey methods for use in assessing the impact of onshore windfarms on bird communities (2005) SNH Guidance Assessing significance of impacts from onshore windfarms on birds out with designated areas (2006) Calculating a theoretical collision risk assuming no avoiding action (2000)

6 Landscape Wildness in Scotland s Countryside (2002) Visual Assessment of Windfarms: Best Practice. SNH Commissioned Report University of Newcastle (2002) Visual representation of windfarms, best practice (2006) SNH Landscape Character Assessments

7 Marine renewables Marine renewable energy and the Natural Heritage: an overview and policy statement (2004)

8 * New guidance * Natura stuff

9 * New guidance * A Methodology for identifying impacts on wild land (2007) Interim guidance review April 2008 Section 2.1 Establishing a baseline NPPG 14: Some of Scotland s remoter mountain and coastal areas possess an elemental quality from which many people derive psychological and spiritual benefits. Such areas are very sensitive to any form of development or intrusive human activity and planning authorities should take great care to safeguard their wild character.

10 Forthcoming guidance Natural heritage assessment of small scale wind energy projects which do not require formal EIA Designing wind farms in the landscape Post construction monitoring of birds Guidelines on the environmental impacts of hydro electric schemes Biomass energy and the natural heritage

11 Peat Calculating Carbon Savings from Windfarms on Scottish Peatlands - Revision of Guidelines New guidance from Scottish Government, spring Methodology - Guidance note - Technical report

12 Revision of SLG Regular update of protected sites New bird data from RSPB Should future versions tackle cumulative issues? SPP6 (para 3 Annex A) Planning Authorities should identify and protect areas designated for their international and national heritage value in their development plans

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18 Natural heritage information online Sitelink and Natural spaces

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26 Wind farm footprint map Work in progress Wind farm applications, consented and installed Publication early 2008 Quarterly update Available on website

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28 Biomass issues Potential impact of large proposals Land use impacts in EIA? Careful locational guidance in development plans Cumulative impacts New guidance early 2008 SPP6 para 27: identify sites appropriate for new biomass plants in those areas where there are either existing long term secure resources or new opportunities available to harness local resources

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31 Hydro issues Small scale run of river - cumulative impacts Large scale / pumped storage - initial discussion about new sites New guidance early 2008 SPP6 para 28 The scope for new hydro-electric schemes in Scotland is likely to limited. issues such as impacts on the natural and cultural heritage, water regimes, fisheries, aquatic habitats and species and cumulative impacts must be adequately addressed by applicants.

32 Engaging with SNH Development proposals - Service Level Statement new version early 2008 Development Plans - Engage early with Area Office - Working groups

33 Moving forward Regional approach Feedback on challenging issues to SNH Focus on development plan process

34 Contacts Policy, Guidance, Wind, Hydro Brendan Turvey Biomass, Biofuels Cecile Smith Marine renewables George Lees

35 Natural Heritage Guidance and Information Brendan Turvey