Over 40 organisations from local communities and the renewable energy industry have come together to voice support for Scotland's good practice on community benefits in an open letter to the UK Government.

The letter is a response to a recent UK Government working paper on the topic and highlights two decades of learning in Scotland.

The signatories believe that any future UK Government policy on community benefits should "build on the foundation of good practice already developed here in Scotland." They also call for an acknowledgement of the shared desire to "create greater impact" and for policies that "enable, not constrain" the continued development of best practice.

Since the 1990s, more than £200 million of community benefit funding has been awarded to support local communities from renewable energy projects across Scotland. Over £30m was awarded from 283 projects last year alone.

The open letter calls on both the UK and Scottish governments to ensure future policies are built on the "accessible guidance, flexible structures and good governance" already promoted in Scotland's "world-leading" Good Practice Principles.

-- Advertisement --

Commenting, Morag Watson, Director of Onshore at Scottish Renewables, said: "Scotland's renewable energy industry is proud of its positive record on local community benefit funding which is delivered on an unrivalled scale. This open letter demonstrates a strong level of support amongst local communities, developers and other stakeholders for the years of good practice which has matured in Scotland.

"As the Scottish and UK governments consider future policy on community benefits, we encourage them to build on Scotland's positive example by keeping communities empowered and projects viable. This will help to ensure a lasting legacy is secured for local communities and maintains Scotland's global lead in renewable energy."

The open letter has been supported by Foundation Scotland, Scotland's Community Foundation and an independent charitable funder which is dedicated to resourcing communities to take action, create positive change and deliver lasting impact. As the UK's most experienced community benefit fund administrator, it works with communities and developers across Scotland to design and deliver positive outcomes from community benefit funds.

Rachel Searle, Head of Communities at Foundation Scotland, added: "As the scale and pace of renewable and low carbon developments gather pace in the face of the climate emergency Scotland has real opportunity to further drive-up good practice and achieve more transformative outcomes.

"Collaborating more and better will help achieve this and this cross-sector statement is a great indication of the appetite in Scotland to do just that."