This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Changing the planning system
11/12/2006
Almost 40 per cent of routine applications from people to extend or alter their homes can be taken out of the planning system entirely, according to new research.
At present, such requests account for half of the 52,000 planning applications received by local authorities every year in Scotland.
The Executive-commissioned research by a team led by Heriot Watt University also found:
- Almost all (97 per cent) of householder developments are approved
- Most are for alterations or extensions but they also make up one third of all appeals and more than half of all enforcement cases
- Most do not raise issues significant enough to warrant restrictive conditions on a planning permission. The planning application usually operates as a precautionary process, largely confirming that the development is not contentious
- In general, the level of scrutiny of the planning system of such development is disproportionate to the environmental risks involved, when taken in relation to the risks from outdated development plans and delayed decisions on major development proposals
The researchers say the process also gets clogged up by confusing technical jargon. Greater use of plain English to describe requirements would help unblock it.
The report therefore recommends that householder permitted development rights should be extended and should also apply to flats where appropriate.
However, any changes have to reflect concerns about development overlooking or overshadowing neighbouring properties.
Deputy Communities Minister Des McNulty said:
"We are at the start of a whole new era of planning modernisation - spearheaded by the provisions in the Planning Bill.
"We want to make the system more efficient and responsive and get rid of red tape which causes needless delay and frustration.
"Where appropriate, greater use of permitted development rights will free up planners to get on with new priorities such as updating local development plans and involving communities from the outset.
"At the same time, we have to keep necessary planning controls to reflect concerns of neighbours and others.
"We have to get the balance right. This research will inform our consideration of this issue. We will hold a full public consultation on legislative proposals next year."
The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Order 1992 (GPDO) grants planning permission across Scotland for a wide range of developments, from relatively minor ones in relation to dwelling houses and temporary development to larger scale operations in relation to railways, mineral exploration and airports.
This relieves the planning system of large numbers of relatively minor applications and avoids operators involved in industries like railways, mineral extraction and airports constantly submitting planning applications for development that would almost certainly receive planning permission.