Labour hands SNP power to speed up roll-out of wind farms across Scottish countryside
Michael Shanks, the UK energy minister, said that the Planning and Infrastructure Bill would 'slash' the time it takes for developers to gain approval to erect wind turbines and electricity pylons.
The Labour MP for Rutherglen said that the legislation would cut 'excessive' and 'costly' delays of up to four years and reduce 'the need for costly, lengthy public inquiries'.
The UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said it was working with SNP ministers to update 'outdated planning rules' in Scotland that were holding back large energy developments.
But the Tories have accused Labour and the SNP of conspiring 'to ride roughshod over local opinion' opposing more wind farms being erected in Scotland.
They claimed both the UK and Scottish governments were 'completely disconnected when it comes to realising the impact railroading through certain projects'.
Scotland had an installed capacity of over 10.1GW in onshore wind that generated 4,528GWh in the third quarter of 2024. This forms almost two thirds of the UK-wide total of about 15.5GW.
But SNP ministers have introduced a new target for a minimum installed capacity of 20GW by 2030, doubling the current operational total north of the border.
Their latest planning framework relaxed controls on building more turbines, with protections watered down for unspoiled wild land.
The SNP wind power target also included replacing existing turbines that may be coming to the end of their working life with even taller and larger versions, a process called 'repowering'.
Currently, it can take up to four years to approve large electricity infrastructure projects in Scotland, such as power lines and onshore wind farms, under UK legislation that has been in place since 1989.
This is about double the delay for new large electricity projects in England and Wales, and the new Bill aims to drastically reduce the timescale in Scotland.
Mr Shanks said: 'These much-needed reforms to Scotland's outdated planning rules will slash the time it takes to approve clean electricity projects while ensuring local voices are heard at an earlier stage – helping deliver our Plan for Change and build an energy system that can bring down bills for good.
'These reforms will end avoidable delays by making the application process more efficient and reducing the need for costly, lengthy public inquiries which hold up the clean power projects we need to deliver more renewable electricity and strengthen our energy security.'
But Douglas Lumsden, the Scottish Tories' shadow net zero and energy secretary, said: 'Communities up and down Scotland will be dismayed that Labour and the SNP are working hand in hand and continuing with their proposals to ride roughshod over local opinion.
'Both governments are completely disconnected when it comes to realising the impact railroading through certain projects would have on rural Scotland in particular.
'It is typical of them to believe they know best and it confirms this so-called consultation was nothing more than a tick-box exercise.'
The legislation gives SNP ministers new powers to allow the Scottish Government to revoke or vary planning consents for energy infrastructure projects under specific circumstances.
This will allow for changes to be made without the developer having to restart the process. Objectors will only have six weeks to appeal a decision to give an application the green light.
However, there is a requirement that developers must 'engage' with local communities before submitting an application to the Scottish Government.
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