Applying for Planning for Community Energy

Planning shapes the places we live, work, and enjoy. Ensuring community energy development is sustainable, appropriate and in the public interest, could mean having to apply for planning permission from the local authority.

Join us at the Energy Learning Network to develop a sound understanding of planning policies, to find out when planning is needed for community energy projects, and what to expect going through the planning process.

We will be joined by members presenting their own community planning application experiences, including engagement with the wider community.

The speakers will also be available during the event for questions and discussion.

Speakers include:

Anne Krippler - Planning & Projects Officer at Planning Aid Scotland, an educational charity and social enterprise that supports communities and individuals with planning advice, training and engagement.

Calum MacDonald of Point & Sandwick Trust, Isle of Lewis, demonstrating how the Trust overcame an objection to its battery storage project during the pre-planning stage.

Tom Skinner of Islay Energy Trust, going through the paces of the Trust's application process for the community solar array and how they incorporated future aspirations.

Brenda Park of Porty Community Energy, Edinburgh, looks at the organisation's experiences when applying for planning in a conservation area and how a key lesson learned is being applied to current work.

Pre-event questions

Please send through your planning questions for Planning Aid Scotland to cath.curd@communityenergy.scot by Wednesday 12 November.

Important note: Planning Aid Scotland can only speak and advise about processes, legislation and policy. They cannot comment on specific planning applications or decisions taken by planning officers.

Your questions for the community trusts will be raised at the event.