Planning Consent Submitted

On 26 July 2012, Scottish Enterprise formally submitted an application to Marine Scotland’s Licensing Operations Team (MS-LOT) for consent to construct and operate the Fife Energy Park Offshore Demonstration Wind Turbine, the consent that underpins what became the Levenmouth Demonstration Turbine. The Marine Scotland licensing record identifies this as a renewables – wind application, with Scottish Enterprise as both applicant and licence holder, and records 26 July 2012 as the official application date, marking the start of the statutory marine consenting process for the project site off Fife Energy Park. [1] The submission was supported by a comprehensive Environmental Statement (ES) dated July 2012, which was prepared to accompany three linked consent applications: a Section 36 consent under the Electricity Act 1989 for an approximately 7 MW offshore demonstration generating station, and two Marine Licence applications under the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 covering turbine placement on the seabed and associated seabed preparation works seaward of Mean High Water Springs. These applications were all made to Marine Scotland via MS-LOT on behalf of the Scottish Ministers. The ES sets out the EIA methodology, applicable EIA regulations, and the need for the development, and is intended to inform ministers’ decision-making on whether to grant the requested consents. Collectively, this application package established the formal planning and marine licensing framework required for the Levenmouth Demonstration Turbine to proceed. [1,2]