A plan that will guide development activities in the Pentland Firth and Orkney waters has been shortlisted for an SAQP award.
The pilot Marine Spatial Plan for the Pentland Firth and Orkney waters (PFOW) has been shortlisted for the Scottish Awards for Quality in Planning (SAQP) which acknowledges achievements in planning throughout the country.
PFOW pilot plan sets out an integrated planning policy framework to guide marine development, activities including renewable energy generation, and management decisions, whilst ensuring the quality of the marine environment is protected.
PFOW marine spatial plan is one of seven projects that has been shortlisted under the ‘partnership’ category, with the awards receiving over sixty applications in total.
The Plan has been prepared by a working group consisting of Orkney Islands Council, The Highland Council and Marine Scotland, with the involvement of the local public and businesses through consultation events throughout planning stages.
Councillor James Stockan , Chair of the Development and Infrastructure committee, said: “The Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters MSP is very worthy of this award and all the people involved should take great pride in the fact that they have been shortlisted alongside other prominent projects throughout Scotland.”
The deadline for the SAQP People’s Choice Awards is in September with winners expected to be announced later in the autumn of this year, Orkney Council informed.