The Scottish Government

This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007

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Planning reform consultation reports

15/12/2004

Analysis reports into three recent consultations on Scotland's planning system were published today.

The Partnership Agreement committed Ministers 'to improving the planning system to strengthen the involvement of communities, speed up decisions, reflect local views better, and allow quicker investment decisions'.

Nearly 2,000 responses have been received across the three consultations, which focused on key aspects of the planning system, namely:

• Modernising Public Local Inquiries - consultation from July 4, 2003, to November 28, 2003 with 88 responses

• Making Development Plans Deliver - consultation from April 1, 2004, to July 1, 2004, with 141 responses

• Rights of Appeal in Planning - consultation from April 1, 2004, to July 31, 2004, with 1,620 responses

Communities Minister Malcolm Chisholm said:

"Planning policies and decisions make a significant impact on our economy, communities and environment.

"We are committed to modernising and reforming the Scottish planning system. Getting it right in planning will mean we can make real progress on Scotland's economic development, environmental protection and social justice.

"I would like to thank all those people and organisations who have taken the time and effort to respond to our consultations.

"These responses, and the broad consultation reports we are publishing today, will help inform the way forward on our planning reform package as a whole."