Implementation Lead(s): Scottish Government; Planning Authorities

Locations: Cockenzie, Grangemouth, Hunterston, Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters, Peterhead

Further reading:
Aberdeenshire Council Planning
North Ayrshire Council Planning
East Lothian Council Planning
Falkirk Council Planning
Pilot Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters Marine Spatial Plan

Environmental Mitigation:  National Planning Framework 3 Strategic Environmental Assessment (as updated) identified biodiversity impacts on the Aberdeenshire Coast, Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters and to a lesser degree at Hunterston.

Ongoing Activity and Milestones:

The Aberdeenshire Local Development Plan was adopted in 2017. It acknowledges that Peterhead is identified in the NPF as an important centre for developing facilities to allow for the transfer of electricity from overseas and off-shore sources, to and from the National Grid, and for the equipment needed to allow carbon dioxide to be stored in North Sea oilfields. The plan has made land allocations to take advantage of these business development opportunities.

March 26, 2015 – Application submitted to Aberdeenshire Council for the Construction and Operation of a Carbon Capture, Compression and Conditioning Plant including associated infrastructure (Application number APP/2015/0903).

East Lothian Council to consider, with relevant organisations and groups, the approach to energy related development in the Cockenzie – Torness area in the preparation of the East Lothian Local Development Plan.

March 27, 2015 – Announcement that Scottish and UK Governments will provide £4.2 Million for industrial research and feasibility work for a proposed full-chain 570MW Carbon Capture Storage (CCS) coal-gasification power station located in Grangemouth. A detailed programme of research and development work will now be undertaken over an 18 month period to advance the engineering design of the project.

April 15, 2015 – Application submitted to Aberdeenshire Council for the Interconnector Converter Station and Cable Connection fro the North Connect Project (cable from Scotland to Norway) (ref APP/2015/1121)

Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters Marine Spatial Plan – received ministerial approval on March 16, 2016. In November 2016, the Plan won an award in the Partnership category at the Scottish Awards for Quality in Planning.