« Previous | Contents | Next »
Listen
KEY MECHANISMS FOR DELIVERING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT THROUGH PLANNING
National Planning Framework
39. The existing National Planning Framework identifies the promotion of sustainable development as one of its key aims. The Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006 places a duty on Ministers to exercise their functions of preparing and revising future National Planning Frameworks with the objective of contributing to sustainable development. The second National Planning Framework will set out a spatial strategy and identify developments of national importance to support Scotland's long-term development. It will identify strategic opportunities to promote sustainability in new development and the existing built environment to provide a national spatial context for development plans, planning decisions and the ongoing programmes of the Scottish Executive, key agencies and local authorities.
Development Plans
Process
40. Development Plans are fundamental to delivering sustainable development. Earlier, more broadly based engagement around the development plan is critical to promoting a shared understanding of the issues facing communities, how the plan might address these issues and developing better understanding and, hopefully, greater consensus around the final plan. This applies equally to public and private sector organisations, such as statutory consultees or developers, as it does to communities and individuals. Development plans are the place where key decisions are set about the long-term shape of our communities and therefore effective participation becomes even more critical in light of climate change and the need to deliver sustainable development. It is also essential that planning authorities work closely with their partners to identify key climate change impacts and possible adaptation measures. Authorities should engage with UKCIP to ensure that development plans reflect up-to-date information on scenarios and impacts.
Long Term Settlement Strategies
41. In their development plans, planning authorities should show that the long-term settlement strategy is sustainable, using the SEA process to examine the key environmental issues. The strategy should be succinctly described within the development plan, taking into account the range of factors above on location of development, and design and layout of buildings. It should explain how new development is to be accommodated over the longer term and what role brownfield land is expected to play. The strategy should focus on actively managing patterns of urban growth and priorities for regeneration to ensure that where new development takes place, public transport is either already available or can be provided and used as fully as possible.
Transparency of Options and Choices
42. SEA of development plans means that the environmental impacts can be made visible and choices more clearly understood. The assessment of the environmental effects of alternatives contributes to more transparent decisions for or against particular locations or sites. Transparency is also critical in the development plan around what is to be expected in terms of developer contributions. Contributions might be sought, for example, on climate adaptation measures such as integrating green space and shade within a urban development to reduce the urban heat island effect.
Focus
43. While development plans have a significant role to play in delivering sustainable development and adapting to climate change, they cannot do everything. Many other regimes have a part to play, such as Building Standards, or other financial mechanisms such as conditions on funding of public schemes. Development plans should therefore be focused on providing clear and easily understood strategies and policies for land use and development.
Implementation
44. Planning authorities must consider their development plans as a means to an end, and place a much greater focus on implementation, than has been the case. A plan that contains policies and proposals that support sustainable development is a good start, but it is not enough. Importantly, the new action programmes to accompany each development plan will require authorities to be clear on priorities for action to deliver the plan's strategy, looking at what will be achieved in the short, medium and long term. New requirements for monitoring, as well as ongoing updates of the action programmes, should provide better access to up to date information and ensure that plans can adapt to changing circumstances. Authorities should also recognise the increasing importance of enforcement, especially when developments do not accord with the development plan.
Supplementary Planning Guidance
Sustainability Standards
45. A number of planning authorities have developed standards by which new buildings in their areas will contribute to sustainable development. These should be progressed through supplementary planning guidance as the level of detail involved is inappropriate for a development plan. Authorities should, however, signal their intention to prepare such guidance in the development plan. The guidance should be subject to extensive but targeted consultation, it should be clear as to the proposals it will affect and there must be adequate publicity and lead in time for the introduction of the new standards. Authorities must satisfy themselves that they have the necessary skills to make these assessments and introduce arrangements to monitor their effect. Fundamental to the successful introduction of new standards will be close and effective working relationships between planning and building standards colleagues.
46. Sustainability indicators can assist in monitoring the impact of development plans and supplementary planning guidance over time. The Scottish Executive's sustainability indicators offer a starting point - local authorities may wish to supplement these with measures to suit their particular circumstances. Sustainability checklists, which can help to ensure key issues are covered and give an indication of what good practice might look like, are generally more applicable to development management and are therefore not discussed in detail here.
Design Briefs
47. In relation to individual sites planning authorities may wish to prepare other types of supplementary guidance, such as site briefs and design briefs, to set out their requirements in terms of layout, form, design and construction of new development. Such briefs might include standards for elements such as energy efficiency or waste collection and recycling. Briefs may be subject to SEA.
Design Statements
48. Applicants for planning permission must play their part in developing new responses to sustainable development and climate change. Design statements, submitted with planning applications, must go beyond conventional urban design principles and approaches and demonstrate how the principles of sustainable development have been factored in to the layout and design of the proposed development. PAN 68: Design Statements provides further guidance.
Knowledge and Skills
Education and Training
49. Much information is available to assist planning authorities and others to understand the impacts of climate change and to offer practical ways forward on planning for sustainable development, for example, through UKCIP. The SBSA and Historic Scotland also provide further technical guidance relating to design and construction matters. We will use the Planning Development Programme to support the wider diffusion of skills and knowledge around sustainable development. We will also look at the potential for using Planning Advice Notes to assist the dissemination of knowledge, techniques and best practice.
Key Agencies and Statutory Consultees
50. The Planning Act 2006 requires key agencies to co-operate in the preparation of development plans and allows for other statutory consultees to be involved in the process too. Key agencies, that are to be defined through secondary legislation, are likely to include Scottish Natural Heritage, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, the Scottish Enterprise Network and Scottish Water. These bodies should be fully engaged in the development plan process and planning authorities should draw on their specialist knowledge in analysing scientific information and considering options.
« Previous | Contents | Next »