Call For Greater Benefits From Marine Developments

28th January 2010

In its response to the UK Government's review of the management of the Crown Estate in Scotland, The Highland Council has highlighted its eagerness to achieve substantial change which will result in greater local community benefit from marine developments, such as renewable energy projects.

The Council has warmly welcomed the inquiry by the Treasury Sub-Committee because it has campaigned for major reform of the Crown Estate in Scotland for many years, seeking a strategic shift in the ownership of marine resources away from the Crown Estate.

In its submission, the Council highlights its commitment to supporting the development of the renewable energy sector in the Highlands, including specific targets for installed capacity and for the development of marine renewable energy in the Pentland Firth.

Councillor Michael Foxley, Leader of the Council's Administration, said: "We recognise the important influence that the Crown Estate Commissioners have. We need to work closely with the Crown Estate Commissioners and all relevant Government and agency partners in the area.

"A vital concern of the Council is that it needs to secure major local financial community benefits (in addition to maximising employment, training and business benefits) from marine energy development around the Highlands and Islands. We are now working with our Highland and Islands local authority partners and Highlands and Islands Enterprise to agree a Memorandum of Understanding with the Crown Estate Commissioners.

"We also wish to see conditions conducive to sustained investment in the Highlands and Islands. We accept that unnecessary delays in allocating leases, combined with recent reports of three-fold increases in transmission charges, may increase uncertainty, particularly at the early stages of development. Clarity and stability are important prerequisites for potential developers of marine energy. The Council would welcome the Inquiry views on how both can be enhanced.

"A further concern of the Council is that marine renewable energy development takes place in a sustainable manner that is fully integrated with the marine spatial planning process at a national and local level. The importance of appropriate consultation as part of this process is obvious. We need the maximum local input. The Council wishes to see greater efforts to fully integrate the role of the Crown Estate Commissioners with the marine planning process at national and local level in Scotland. This implies a need for greater integration with Marine Scotland, which will shortly have responsibility for marine planning and licensing, with the passage of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010."