This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Planning advice for internet age
30/11/2004
Advice for councils and planners on how to deliver
electronic planning (e-planning) services was issued by the
Executive today.
Planning Advice Note (PAN) 70 outlines how planning
authorities can deliver the online services that
individuals, communities and businesses require.
Deputy Communities Minister Johann Lamont said:
"I'm pleased that the Executive and councils have
collaborated so closely on the development of e-planning in
Scotland. We want to strengthen the involvement of
communities and speed up decision-making in the planning
system; e-planning helps us achieve this.
"This advice will help people involved in delivering
e-planning systems and those such as architects, agents and
community groups, who regularly use them,
"E-planning increases openness, efficiency and
effectiveness in planning service delivery, and allows
people greater choice in how they use planning
services."
The PAN explains how planning authorities can develop
their websites to allow people to:
- make and monitor the progress of
planning applications
- investigate if changes to their
property require permission
- find out about planning
applications in their area and make representations
online
- check what land is designated for
in development plans, and engage with the development
plan preparation process and
- find out about the planning
history of a property
The Executive and local authorities published an
e-planning compact in November 2003 to confirm their common
approach to modernising planning service delivery in
Scotland through the use of electronic communications.
The compact sets out agreed aspirations for an effective
e-planning service.
The Town and Country Planning (Electronic
Communications) (Scotland) Order 2004 came into effect on
July 28, 2004.
It allows local authorities and national park
authorities to carry out a range of planning procedures
electronically. PAN 70 builds on this.
A number of Councils have made progress with electronic
planning, in particular City of Edinburgh Council,
Clackmannanshire Council, East Lothian Council, Shetland
Islands Council and Stirling Council.
The existing paper-based system will continue to operate
for as long as there is a need.