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PLANNING Bulletin: Issue No 22 December 2003
Modernising Development Plans
In June 2002 the Review of Strategic Planning, Next Steps and Conclusions, announced a series of changes to the development planning system, centred around local development plans in all areas of Scotland and city region plans for the four main cities. Since then we have been working with stakeholders to identify the barriers and opportunities to better development plans and shadowing the preparation of the Wester Ross Local Plan and the Hamilton Area Local Plan, with Highland and South Lanarkshire Councils, to help identify ways to improve the system.
Experience supports the view that major procedural changes are not required and that effective management of the process is key to quicker, more effective development plans. In this context, a requirement for Councils to prepare a scheme setting out a detailed timetable and programme for review of their development plans and the use of project plans for individual development plans are to be supported. Changes to the consultation and approval processes could also help to streamline the process and put in place an up-to-date development plan framework across the country.
To help raise the profile of plans and ensure effective delivery, a statutory duty could be placed on key agencies to engage in developing planning. A requirement for regularly updated action plans, relating to each development plan, could help to address difficulties with implementation by setting out an agreement between parties on delivering the plan's aims.
Other possibilities include model development plan policies as a means of drawing on best practice in policy preparation and achieving a level of harmonisation across plans. Research, advising on the most beneficial types and forms of model policies and how they might be put in place, is due to conclude around the end of the year.
The internet is increasingly being used to publish developments plans and other supporting information to help people engage more effectively. This is much welcomed progress. We now need to work towards a more consistent level of service across authorities. Advice will be provided through an electronic Planning Advice Note (ePAN), currently in preparation.
A consultation paper at the beginning of 2004 is intended to bring together the detailed arrangements for the new city region plans, along with other proposals to modernise the system and produce shorter, more focused development plans. While some elements of modernisation will require new legislation, such as new city region plans or a duty on key agencies to engage, many changes can be made under existing legislation. We therefore expect authorities to push forward with development plan review. We will continue to involve stakeholders as we move towards amendments to legislation, policy and advice.
Key features of the proposed system:
- Country-wide coverage of up-to-date local development plans
- City Region Plans for the four main cities focused on the key spatial issues
- Streamlined preparation with early targeted consultation and a single 'proposed plan'
- Transparent and independent approval process
- Development plan scheme outlining timetable and programme of review
- Duty placed on key agencies to engage in the process
- Action plans affirming agreed delivery commitments for the next two years
- Schedule of land ownership prepared and kept up to date
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