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1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 This document (referred to here as the post-adoption SEA statement) has been prepared in accordance with Section 18 of the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005.
Availability of documents
1.2 The finalised version of SPP3 as adopted, along with the Environmental Report and post-adoption SEA Statement are available on the Housing topic page of the Planning webpage on the Scottish Government's website at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/planning/National-Planning-Policy/themes/housing
Key Facts
Name of responsible authority | Scottish Government Directorate for the Built Environment |
Title of PPS | Scottish Planning Policy ( SPP) 3 Planning for Homes |
Purpose of the PPS | To set out national planning policy on planning for homes. |
What prompted the PPS | SPP3 has been reviewed because of concerns that the objectives of the existing policy have not been achieved since its publication in February 2003, partly because development plans are not providing sufficient housing land to meet development needs. Following a period of consideration, and in consultation with the Affordable Housing Working Group, the then Minister for Communities announced the early review of the policy in November 2006. In addition, the revision of the SPP is required to reflect the new Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006 and emerging guidance on housing needs assessment and best practice on the qualitative aspects of housing developments. A parallel review of policy on Houses in Multiple Occupation ( HMO) also formed part of the review of the SPP, prompted by concerns about the possible negative effects on communities of high concentrations of HMOs. |
Subject | Planning for housing |
Period covered | Not specified |
Frequency of updates | There are no standard review timescales for SPPs. However, regular engagement with stakeholders will identify any perceived shortcomings or gaps in the revised SPP3. |
Area of PPS | Scotland |
Summary of nature / content of PPS | SPP3 provides a national overview of planning policy relating to housing. The revised SPP will strengthen the policy direction given to local authorities on how they should ensure an adequate supply of land is made available for future housing developments, create quality, sustainable residential environments, and guide development to the right places. |
Date adopted | 28 July 2008 |
Contact name and address | Dr Simon Cuthbert - Kerr
Directorate for the Built Environment
Area 2-H Bridge
Victoria Quay
Edinburgh
EH6 6QQ
0131 244 5597 |
Date | November 2008 |
1.3 SPP3 has been subjected to a process of Strategic Environmental Assessment ( SEA), as required under the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005. This has included the following activities:
- Taking into account the views of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Scottish Natural Heritage and Historic Scotland regarding the scope and level of detail that was appropriate for the Environmental Report.
- Preparing an Environmental Report on the likely significant effects on the environment of the draft SPP, which included consideration of:
- the baseline data relating to the current state of the environment. Efforts were made to focus this specifically on issues of relevance to housing policy in Scotland;
- links between SPP3 and other relevant strategies, policies, plans, programmes and environmental protection objectives;
- existing environmental problems affecting the PPS;
- the plan's likely significant effects on the environment (positive and negative);
- measures envisaged for the prevention, reduction and offsetting of any significant adverse effects;
- an outline of the reasons for selecting the alternatives chosen;
- monitoring measures to ensure that any unforeseen environmental effects will be identified allowing for appropriate remedial action to be taken.
- Consulting on the Environmental Report as an integral part of the consultation on the Draft SPP3.
- Undertaking further assessment work, focusing on the goal of constructing 35000 homes annually, in order to provide a more detailed set of mitigation measures for the policy.
- Taking into account the Environmental Report and the results of consultation and the supplementary assessment in making final decisions regarding the finalised SPP.
- Committing to monitoring the significant environmental effects of the implementation of SPP3.
1.4 This SEA Statement concludes the SEA process, by setting out how the SEA has influenced the development of the SPP. It explains how the finalised SPP now addresses the environmental problems and effects which were identified during the course of the assessment. It aims to provide an overview of the SEA process as a whole, and to set out plans for further mitigation and environmental monitoring.
Structure of the SEA Statement
1.5 The remainder of the SEA Statement is structured as follows:
- Section 2 recaps on the environmental problems which were identified in the Environmental Report, and explains how the finalised version of the SPP has responded to them, fulfilling Section 18(3) (a) and (b) of the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005. It also explains how the issues raised during the consultation process have been addressed in accordance with Section 18(3)(c) of the Act.
- Section 3 provides a revised mitigation schedule for the SPP3, which explains how the issues identified in Section 2 have been, or will be, addressed.
- Section 4 sets out the reasons for choosing the SPP3 as adopted, in light of other reasonable alternatives considered, in line with Section 18(3)(e) of the Act.
- Section 5 sets out proposals for monitoring the significant environmental effects of the SPP (Section 18(3)(f) of the Act).
1.6 In addition, Appendix 1 provides a further assessment of the environmental effects that are predicted from the Scottish Government's goal of building 35000 homes annually. This was recommended by the Consultation Authorities within their responses to the Environmental Report. The more focused and detailed assessment has been beneficial, given the importance of this aspect of the SPP and the need to ensure that any negative environmental effects are mitigated as fully as possible. The findings from the further assessment have been used to inform the redrafting and finalisation of the SPP, and to develop the more detailed mitigation schedule (as set out in Section 3).
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