Scottish Government

Latest Update – April 2013

The Scottish Government published its Key Actions on Planning Reform in January 2013, setting out its programme of actions to support the ongoing and continuous improvement in performance of the Scottish planning system, and its contribution to sustainable economic growth.

The Scottish Government has also recently published a processing agreement template. This template is a shell to help project manage major planning applications. It should be adapted to suit individual needs.

A full record of progress of the actions set out in Planning Reform: Next Steps is available.

Planning Reform: The Next Steps

In March 2012 Derek Mackay, the Minister for Local Government and Planning, made a statement to the Scottish Parliament setting out the Scottish Government’s intention to further promote reform of the planning system.

The Planning Reform: Next Steps document summarised the package of proposals which aim to help the planning system reach its potential in supporting economic recovery. The emphasis was on non-legislative measures but legislative changes will be brought forward where necessary.

The key priorities for the next stages of planning modernisation are; promoting the plan led system driving improved performance; simplifying and streamlining processes; delivering development.

To support the above priorities the Scottish Government sought views through stakeholder events and published five consultation documents. The analysis of the consultation responses was published in September 2012.

Following discussions with COSLA leaders and other key stakeholders in December 2012, Local Government and Planning Minister Derek Mackay announced a way forward on Planning Reform.

Key points were; an increase in planning fees by 20% in April 2013; the formation of a high level group will review planning performance and look at proposals to link performance with wider reform of planning fees; an additional one-off funding of £673,000 to help planning authorities to deal with applications for wind turbines; confirmation of additional funding to Planning Aid for Scotland to increase young peoples involvement in planning as well as deliver pilot projects to investigate alternative ways of delivering charrettes; an additional £20,000 to Heads of Planning Scotland for training support publication of revised guidance on planning obligations (Circular 3/12: Planning obligations and Good Neighbour Agreements) the changes to permitted development rights consulted on in 2012 will be implemented in 2013, with the exception of changes to agricultural and forestry tracks.  We have laid some amendments to planning legislation before Parliament which came into force on February 2, 2013.

Publications and Resources

As part of the Reform Package a number of important documents and learning resources were launched during 2012. Planning Reform: Next Steps; National Planning Framework for Scotland 2 - Monitoring Report 2012; National Planning Framework 3: Participation Statement; Development economics and viability resources; Inspirational Design website; Planning Performance Framework (publication by Heads of Planning Scotland)and Processing Agreement Template

Consultations

The following consultations are now closed Development Plan Examinations Consultation 2012; Consultation on Fees for Planning Applications 2012; Consultation on Miscellaneous Amendments to the Planning System 2012; Consultation on the General Permitted Development Order Amendment Order 2012 and Development Delivery Consultation 2012

Contact
Suzanne Stephen
0131 244 7148
suzanne.stephen@scotland.gsi.gov.uk