Consenting Services
Proven UK-wide experience in providing expert consenting services specifically focused on renewable energy projects.
Our approach is to plan for consent. All of our activities are directed towards achieving successful project delivery.
Consenting Overview
The purpose of the consenting stage is to obtain all the consents necessary to build a project. The scope of works for this stage varies widely depending on the project; however, in general this includes planning consent, other environmental consents, utility connection consent and property consents (among others). The services that Locogen provide in this stage are listed below.
Securing the consents needed to construct a project is vital. At the consenting stage, we ensure that an appropriate level of environmental assessment is carried out for the scale and impact of each specific project. This can range from simple Design and Access Statements for smaller projects to full Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) and Environmental Statements for larger multi MW wind and solar projects.
As project developers we make sure that consents are optimised with construction and operation in mind. We will only bring in specialist third parties when they are an absolute requirement to securing consent. This approach ensures that costs are not borne at risk unnecessarily, and timescales for the planning submission are minimised.
The general consenting process we offer for each technology includes screening, scoping, community engagement, EIA, application management, committee/hearing, appeals and purifying conditions. Having said this, each project has its own complications and as such, we have included case studies overleaf to communicate this. Whilst the challenges presented may differ, our dedicated approach to consenting remains constant.
- Planning consent
- Screening study
- Scoping study
- Environmental surveys
- Landscape assessment
- Visualisations
- Ecology
- Ornithology
- Noise assessment
- Archaeology
- Preparation of EIA or supporting environmental documentation(internal)
- Planning application preparation and submission (internal)
- Committee and hearings presentations (internal)
- Appeal process
- Purify planning conditions
- Environmental consents
- CAR licences
- PAS 10 compliance
- Waste management compliance
- Utilities connections
- Grid connection for import and export electricity (internal)
- District heat infrastructure and connections (internal)
- Communications (internal)
- Water supply (internal)
- Gas supply (internal)
- Property and stakeholder consents
- Commercial terms for exclusivity (internal)
- Commercial terms for options and lease
- Detailed maps and drawing
- Commercial terms of private wire PPAs
- Commercial terms of heat supply agreements
Case Studies
Consenting (Solar)
Locogen is currently acting as planning agent for a number of solar portfolios with sites stretching from the South of England, through South West Wales and all the way up to the North East of Scotland. These projects range in size from 200kw to 90MW and involve the full range of our consenting services including planning, ecology, archaeology and peat. The work packages usefully demonstrate the breadth and depth of Locogen’s experience in this fast-growing sector.
Consenting (Multi-technology)
Acting in a supporting role to our technical experts, Locogen’s consenting team recently completed the consenting and discharge of conditions on the UK’s first ever ‘Green Distillery’ at Arbikie, near Montrose in Angus. The proposal which involves a hydrogen electrolysis plant powered by a single 900kw wind turbine with connecting electrical and hydrogen infrastructure, provides an excellent example of the innovative and ground-breaking capabilities within Locogen’s consenting team.
Public Inquiry (Wind)
Locogen’s consenting team successfully managed and delivered consent through the Public Inquiry process for Fred. Olsen Renewables’ Fetteresso Wind Farm in Aberdeenshire, following an objection to this section 36 application by Aberdeenshire Council. Working alongside the client and their legal team, Locogen’s consent managers not only co-ordinated and project managed the Public Inquiry Process but also acted as planning expert witnesses preparing submissions and updates to the Inquiry hearing sessions on Policy and Planning Conditions. The Inquiry led to the successful consenting of this project Scottish Ministers in September 2022.
Compliance (Wind)
Having previously discharged the full suite of planning conditions, and consented additional essential infrastructure to make the project deliverable, Locogen is currently providing Planning Monitoring and Ecological Clerk of Works Services on this 8 turbine wind farm site in South Ayrshire. Working between the developer, Local Authority, SEPA, and onsite contractors, Locogen has worked diligently on the ground and with consultees to ensure the delivery of this complex site remains within its consented planning framework.
Repowering
Locogen has recently completed the consenting of its first repowering project for an agricultural client in Dumfries and Galloway. The Project which began with the provision of technical advice on turbine selection led onto Locogen developing and submitting a planning application to repower a previously failing turbine on the same site. This work package highlights Locogen’s multi-disciplinary approach to consenting work in repowering former Feed-in-Tariff wind turbine projects.
