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Peel Ports Group is a partner of the Ardrossan Harbour Project. Transport Scotland has regular engagement with Peel Ports and other partners through the project Steering Group Meetings. We have also been engaging with Peel Ports, on the Commercial and Legal Agreement aspects of the project.

Transport Scotland officials continue to work closely with all of the project partners to complete work on the business case and cost exercise review.

Scottish Ministers will continue to consider each proposal on a case-by-case basis, following review of the application information, consultation responses and representations made by members of the public.

The Energy Consents Unit continually assess how the application process can be made more efficient and effective. The proposed reforms have been identified through these efforts as ways in which the process could be streamlined and modernised.

Local Authorities are a key stakeholder in the consenting process.

The ‘Verity House Agreement’ and the ‘New Deal for Business’ have set out how the Scottish Government intends to work collaboratively with local authorities and others to deliver a just transition to net zero.

The reform process launched by this consultation creates an opportunity to re-set the expectations on the bodies providing essential support to the application process, taking account of their views, suggestions and their specific circumstances.

A decision on Berwick Bank will be taken by Ministers in due course. We cannot comment on a live application. We are aware of the importance of projects being able to apply for Contract for Difference (CfD) Rounds and will take this timing into account in the decision making process, where possible to do so.

NatureScot are a key stakeholder in the consenting process.

The ‘Verity House Agreement’ and the ‘New Deal for Business’ have set out how the Scottish Government intends to work collaboratively with local authorities and others to deliver a just transition to net zero.

The reform process launched by this consultation creates an opportunity to re-set the expectations on the bodies providing essential support to the application process, taking account of their views, suggestions and their specific circumstances.

Given the range of stakeholders affected by the proposed reform to the consenting process, both governments agreed that a public consultation was essential ahead of any legislation.

Designing any monitoring and evaluation mechanism at this time would be pre-empt responses received and their impact on any final changes that are implemented.

Resourcing requirements for the Energy Consents Unit are kept under continued review. The unit has recently increased its staffing resource in response to increased application volumes.

At present there is no mechanism by which consents for large overhead electric lines may be varied, or by which consents may be varied quickly in minor ways by the Scottish Government.

These limitations can present barriers to the development of infrastructure which are essential to energy security.

Through the consultation, Scottish Government is keen to understand what further support mechanisms, and practical measures, could be explored within a collaborative framework to reduce the time needed to provide consultation responses.