Aberdeenshire Council has officially launched a new Energy Development Charter, a strategic framework designed to ensure that the region's communities and local economies directly benefit from the surge in large-scale energy projects. As the area becomes a focal point for Scotland's energy transition—including offshore wind, solar, carbon capture, and hydrogen—the Charter sets out clear expectations for developers to move beyond national targets and deliver tangible local value.

At its core, the Charter is built on the principle of "community wealth building." This people-centred approach seeks to keep investment within the local area by encouraging developers to hire locally, support regional supply chains, and offer community ownership opportunities. The Charter aligns with National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4), specifically policies 11 and 25, which mandate that energy developments maximise net economic impact and support local socio-economic priorities.

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The Charter outlines four key pillars for developers to address in their planning applications:

• Fair Employment: Promoting local job creation and establishing long-term, collaborative skills and training pathways for residents.

• Proactive Procurement: Providing structured support for local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to participate in project supply chains.

• Socially Just Land Use: Encouraging models of community ownership to build more resilient and vibrant local areas.

• Equality: Directly addressing rural inequalities to ensure the benefits of the energy transition are shared by all.

Paul Macari, Head of Planning and Economy at Aberdeenshire Council, stated: "Aberdeenshire is at the heart of energy transition... and there is significant economic interest in the region. The new charter is not simply a checklist but a collaborative framework with the firm aim of working with energy companies to unlock vital economic opportunities across the region. We have a unique opportunity to shape a positive legacy from these major developments."

The Charter will now serve as a guide for how the Council assesses upcoming energy projects. In a move toward transparency, developers will eventually be expected to submit public reports detailing the specific economic and social achievements they have delivered for the people of Aberdeenshire.

Cllr Alan Turner, Chair of Aberdeenshire Council's Infrastructure Services Committee, added: "Our charter ensures that we make the most of these large energy developments for Aberdeenshire, for Scotland and for future generations. We have already seen some strong interest in collaboration around issues like investing in the skills pipeline and we want to advance other collaborative partnerships and enable these companies to do their best for Aberdeenshire."