Accessing Scotland's geothermal resource: regulatory guidance
Guidance prepared with key stakeholders outlining the regulatory framework for exploring and exploiting Scotland's geothermal resource.
Reference material
Environmental protection
Scottish Environment Protection Agency
SEPA: Guidance on Requirements for Activities Related to Geothermal Energy
Water Environment (Controlled Activities)(Scotland) Regulations 2011
SEPA: Practical guide to the Water Environment (Controlled Activities)(Scotland) Regulations 2011
SEPA: Guidance on licences required for drilling and operation of deep boreholes
Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Regulations 2018
SEPA: Authorisation guide for radioactive substances activities
SEPA: Good practice for decommissioning redundant boreholes and wells
SEPA: An applicant’s guide to water supply boreholes
SEPA: Regulatory Method: Licensing Groundwater Abstractions including Dewatering
SEPA: Regulatory Method: Modelling methods for groundwater abstractions
SEPA: Supporting Guidance: Application of Standards to Thermal Discharges
SEPA: Regulatory Method: Trade Effluent Discharges to Groundwater
Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
Planning
Scottish Government: National Planning Framework 4
Scottish Government: Guidance on Ministerial involvement in planning decisions
Town and Country Planning (Hierarchy of Developments) (Scotland) Regulations 2009
Planning Circular 5/2009: Guidance on the hierarchy of developments
Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997
Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (Scotland) Regulations 2013
Town and Country Planning (Development Planning) (Scotland) Regulations 2023
Local Development Planning Guidance
Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2017
Planning Circular 1/2017: Guidance on the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations
Conservation (Natural Habitats &c.) Regulations 1994
NatureScot guidance on the Habitats Regulations
Town and Country Planning (Hierarchy of Developments) (Scotland) Regulations 2009
Planning Circular 5/2009: Guidance on the hierarchy of developments
Health and safety
HSE short guide to health and safety regulation
Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974
HSE guidance on the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974
Guidance on managing the risk of hazardous gases when drilling or piling near coal
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002
HSE guidance on the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999
Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015
HSE guidance on the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015
Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998
HSE guidance on the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998
Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013
HSE brief guide to the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013
Borehole Sites and Operations Regulations 1995
HSE guide to the Borehole Sites and Operations Regulations 1995
Offshore Installations and Wells (Design and Construction etc) Regulations 1996
Work at Height Regulations 2005
HSE guidance on the Work at Height Regulations 2005
Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000
HSE guidance on the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000
Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992
HSE guidance on the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992
Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998
HSE guidance on the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998
Permission to access land and property
Coal Authority: Guide to getting a coal mining licence or other consent
Additional notification requirements
National Geoscience Data Centre
NGDC: Notification of intention to drill a borehole or sink a well
Contact
Email: johann.macdougall@gov.scot
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