DECC Appraisal of Peat Landslide Hazard Risk Assessments

The Scottish Ministers are the consenting authority for applications for the construction and operation of generating stations, and the installation of overhead lines, under sections 36 and 37 of the Electricity Act 1989 ("Electricity Act Applications").

The Energy Consents Unit processes a number of Electricity Act Applications (including some on peatland) which require an Environmental Impact Assessment, including wind farms with installed capacity in excess of 50 megawatts and overhead electric lines. In peatland areas, aside from potential ecological impacts there can be the risk of peat landslide as a result of the proposal, its engineering operations and its associated infrastructure (such as roads, access tracks, anemometer masts, substations and foundations) with the potential for risk to population and public safety where paths, roadways or properties may be impacted, or environmental pollution, especially where there is the potential for peat landslides to impact on nearby watercourses.

As a result, where Electricity Act Applications are proposed on peatland habitats, comprehensive peat landslide hazard risk assessments (PLHRA) are required to be carried out in accordance with the Scottish Government “Peat Landslide Hazard and Risk Assessments: Best Practice Guide for Proposed Electricity Generation Developments" (published at www.gov.scot/publications/peat-la… ↗) and details are required to be included in EIA reports provided with the applications.

In addition to processing Electricity Act Applications for consent, the Energy Consents Unit also has a role in considering proposals at pre-application stage, facilitating discussions with environmental stakeholders to enable design iterations to be made in light of environmental sensitivities, and establishing where mitigation measures may overcome environmental impacts which may arise from the deployment of projects.

In order to determine the applications described above, the Energy Consents Unit requires access to technical expertise to audit the environmental information provided by developers against the Scottish Government Best Practice Guide referred to above; to make recommendations to Scottish Ministers on how any matters which fall short of best practice should be addressed; to provide advice and drafting input to Scottish Ministers on planning conditions which may be required to mitigate peat landslide risks; and to provide advice to Scottish Ministers on requirements for PLHRAs during EIA screening and scoping. These services may be required in the context on any of the applications under the Electricity Act which are determined by Scottish Ministers.