The process for approving the finalised Fife Structure Plan 2006-2026 and the Housing Land Requirement Re-appraisal submitted to Scottish Ministers is entering its final phase. Next steps by Ministers involve statutory procedures under planning and environmental assessment (SEA) legislation.
- Ministers have determined that there is no need for an examination in public of the Plan. They are minded to make modifications to text, policies and proposals in the Plan, including consideration of the relationship between population projections and strategic land allocations. Modifications will also take account of objections received by Ministers or where they ensure that the Plan accords with Scottish Planning Policies and Ministers' priorities.
Strategic Environmental Assessment and modifications to the Plan
- Under the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005, a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of any proposed modifications must firstly be undertaken before Ministers can consult on proposed modifications to the Plan. An SEA scoping report must be submitted to the SEA Consultation Authorities - Historic Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency for a statutory five week consultation period. That will take place later this summer.
- The environmental effects of proposed modifications and alternatives to them, will then be assessed as they are drafted, and that information will be used to inform the decision making process. The findings from the assessment will be set out in an SEA Environmental Report.
- The Environmental Report will be advertised and issued for public consultation for 6 weeks. Ministers can then consult on proposed modifications to the Plan. Concurrently, proposed modifications will be advertised and published under planning legislation for 6 weeks. Those stages are expected to take place in the autumn.
- The Scottish Government will then take into account the findings from the public consultation on the proposed modifications and the SEA, and that is likely to lead to the approval of the Structure Plan towards the end of the year.
Further detail is available from:
Graham Marchbank
Principal Planner
Directorate for the Built Environment
The Scottish Government
2-H Victoria Quay
Edinburgh EH6 6QQ
T. 0131 244 7525 F. 0131 244 7555
Email: Graham.marchbank@scotland.gsi.gov.uk