Once you have completed your feasibility study and the project is viable, your next step is Scoping. Scoping involves consulting with various parties that have a vested interest in and significant influence over the outcome of your project.

Your project may have impacts on local residents, the local ecology and parties that might be in your area like the Ministry of Defence (MOD) even mobile phone companies. Your scoping work will enable you to find out who these stakeholders might be, what their issues are and what measures you may have to take mitigate or remove the impacts that your project has on them.  

Here are some of the groups you will need to consult and the action you might choose to take:

Statutory consultees

Your consultant will identify the statutory consultees, stakeholders who may object because a wind farm may compromise their activities. These consultees might include the Ministry Of Defence, mobile phone companies, the RSPB, Natural England and so on. Your consultant will contact these consultees and ask them to raise any issues or objections to your project that they might have.

Ecology and Natural Heritage

Projects can be halted in their tracks when factors such as rare animal species or important archeological sites are compromised. The relevant statutory consultees will be contacted but initial research into any ecological compromise can be conducted during the feasibility study.  You can take the first steps by looking at your OS map and identifying if the site is in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) or if archaeological sites are detailed on the map.

Local Authority

Your Local Authority, District or County Council will be the body that will grant approval to your project so it is crucial you have a good line of communication with them. It is best to contact your planning officer, in the early stages of your project to tell them about your project and find out what the local authorities view is of renewable energy developments. You can start this research by visiting their website.

Your Local Authority is perhaps your most important consultee and it is essential that you provide them with all the information they need so that they are made aware of all the issues they need to address. The information you provide the Local Authority in the scoping exercise will determine the extent of information they will request that you submit in your planning application.

Public consultation

To inform the local community and to get their views on your project you will need to hold a public exhibition and consultation. Public feedback can help you to determine the design of your project and get local support which is vital to ensure your project’s success.

It is important to visit residents in advance of your exhibition to explain fully your intentions. It is critical that you provide people with the information that will dismiss the myths about renewable energy and allay any concerns. This information can help to win favour for your project whereas unanswered questions can create opposition – good communication is critical.  You need to also consider how you will manage your local media. A well timed, well written press release with all the necessary information is a good place to start.