Community benefits are voluntary initiatives; they are not a material consideration in the planning process and cannot be a condition of planning permission. Deliberations around a package of community benefits should therefore be an entirely separate process from planning decisions and should be based on the specific needs of local communities rather than the impact of the project. When managed well, engaging with a renewable energy business about community benefits early on does not need to conflict with planning legislation.
It is helpful for both the community(ies) and the renewable energy business if the separation between community benefits provision and planning consent decisions are made clear from the outset to help negate any potential tensions or perceived conflicts of interest.
Top tips:
- Be open and transparent about communications with the renewable energy business
- Be clear that community benefit discussions have no impact on comments in relation to planning consent decisions
- It may help to develop a separate representative structure or sub-group of the community council specifically for this purpose
- Keep a log or minute of the discussions between the community and the renewable energy business that states that contributing to community benefits discussions does not affect an individual or organisation’s right to express a view on the development proposals, and objecting to or supporting the development does not affect their right to discuss the community benefits proposals.
- Ask if the renewable energy business can hold a consultation over the potential community benefit arrangement completely separately from any consultation on the development itself to allow people to freely express their views on the development and still be involved in community benefits discussions.
