The Act Overview Miscellaneous Section 33: Form and manner etc. of applications under Part 2
77.The Scottish Ministers can determine the form and manner in which a “relevant application” can be made as well as the information that is to be included in the application (subsection (1)) and must publish the determination in such manner as they consider appropriate (subsection (4)). “Relevant application” means a heat network consent application, a heat network consent modification application, or an application for a consent, agreement or approval required by a condition of a heat network consent (subsection (7)). A relevant application that does not conform to the requirements determined by the Scottish Ministers does not need to be considered by the appropriate consent authority (subsection (5)).
78.Subsection (2) specifies that, in determining the information that is to be included in a relevant application, the Scottish Ministers can require certain types of application to include a “community engagement report”. Subsection (3) clarifies that a “community engagement report” must set out the engagement that an applicant has undertaken with the relevant community, and how the views it has received have been taken into account.
79.Subsection (6) requires the Scottish Ministers to consult local authorities and any other persons they consider appropriate, prior to making any determination under subsection (1).