Chamber News
INDUSTRIES JOIN CALL FOR SCOTTISH SOLAR POWER REFORMS
9 November 2022 • Sarah Medcraf
Companies from a range of sectors have backed calls from the solar industry for urgent changes to Scottish planning law and tax rules. More than 20 firms and trade bodies have written to ministers arguing that business rates and permitted development rights must be reformed. A joint letter states that businesses are currently "unable to deploy solar energy at the necessary speed". It argues changes would help firms cut energy costs and decarbonise. The signatories include representatives from agriculture, warehousing, distilling, food and solar. The letter calls on the Scottish government to allow the installation of solar panels with up to 5MW capacity without having to seek planning permission. The current "permitted development" threshold is 50kW. It states: "This limit artificially constrains the potential for commercial rooftop solar. "The space of a roof will automatically constrain the maximum size of a solar power project, which in any case will be subject to all other relevant planning requirements." The letter, which was drawn up by trade body Solar Energy Scotland, also calls on ministers to exempt firms from paying non-domestic rates on new solar panels on a 12-year rolling basis, as is the case in England. |