SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE

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Inquiry Reporters Unit: Review of the Year 1998-99

A : Workload

8. Table A1 shows the numbers of cases in hand at the beginning of the business year; cases received during the year; cases completed (split by delegated appeal decisions and reports to the Secretary of State or other clients); cases withdrawn; and cases in hand at the end of the year.

Table A1 : Volume of cases handled by SOIRU 1998-99

*One extra case identified since previous annual review. **Includes some non-inquiry cases.

9. The intake of new cases is about 12% up on the previous year, restoring a reduction that took place during 1997-98. The number of cases withdrawn or suspended is about 16%, again restoring a reduction in this category observed in the previous year. The total number of cases disposed of during the year shows a modest increase compared with 1997-98, although not large enough to offset the increased intake. Consequently the number of cases in hand at the end of the year is slightly up.

Pie Chart

10. The pie chart shows the breakdown of the Unit's intake of cases, by type of case. More detail is given in table A2, to be found with two other large tables in the appendix at the end of this report. As usual, the vast majority of the cases are planning and related appeals (94% of all cases received), nearly all of which are delegated to the Reporter for decision. The number of planning permission and planning enforcement notice appeals has remained steady, while the increase in cases received is due to a significant increase in the number of advertisement and related appeals, up from about 160 in 1997-98 to 290 in 1998-99. The 74 non-appeal cases listed in the lower part of table A2 include a number of very important proposals, and extensive local plan inquiries, which together account for an important part of the Unit's workload.

11. Among the larger cases that were handled by public local inquiry during the year were industrial development at Altens, Aberdeen; major residential developments at Oldmeldrum, Crossford (Fife), and Grangemouth; a number of housing appeals linked with the East Lothian Local Plan inquiry; opencast coal sites at Greengairs and Harthill; major retail proposals at Dunfermline, Moffat, Polmont, and Dumfries; and proposals for enlarged visitor facilities at Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness. Major cases where inquiries have already taken place made further progress during the year. The reports on proposals for the windfarms near Helmsdale and the Gartcosh gas fired power station were completed and submitted, while the reports on a proposed new settlement at Banchory Devenick (where the inquiry was re-opened following an important change in structure plan policy), and the Lingerbay superquarry in Harris were close to completion at the end of the year. Work on the report on the Shieldaig hydro scheme continues.

12. Table A3 gives more detail of the different types of development for which planning appeals were lodged during the year, including information about proposals in green belts. Single houses account for about 27% of these appeals. Only about 6% of planning permission appeals were located within green belts, possibly reflecting a recognition by developers of the strength of green belt policies. The numerous cases in the "other minor" category are varied, but include appeals relating to planning conditions, communications equipment, and agricultural buildings where they are not permitted development.

Table A3 : Planning permission appeals received 1998-99, by type of development and whether in green belts

13. Table A4 shows the local plan workload for the last 5 calendar years, and the forecast positions for 1999 and 2000. The amount of local plan work is increasing after a quieter period following local government reorganisation in 1996-97. Most of the new plans are district-wide. During 1998, the most significant local plan inquiry in terms of workload was the East Lothian Local Plan, which also encompassed 8 associated planning appeals. It has been the most ambitious exercise to date in combining local plan and appeal work. This approach allows overall housing land requirements to be related to potential sites, and avoids the duplication of evidence at local plan and appeal inquiries, resulting in cost savings for all parties involved, and a reduction in overall timescales. Three Reporters were engaged on that inquiry, to shorten the reporting period, with considerable work continuing into 1999. The local plans for Stirling District (also involving 3 Reporters) and Strathkelvin Central Area also involved lengthy inquiries. Despite the logistical complexities, the combining of evidence for local plan objections and appeal cases, and the use of more than one Reporter, have received a generally favourable response. Further comments on how the handling of this demanding area of work could be improved are welcomed.

14. The forecast of local plan inquiry work for 2000 indicates a continuing high workload, including major inquiries into the Consolidated Aberdeenshire Local Plans (3 plans, again using 3 Reporters) and the West Lothian Local Plan. The inquiry into the Glasgow City local plan is now expected to take place early in 2001.

Table A4 : SOIRU/SEIRU local plan workload 1994-2000

* Includes Dumbarton District Local Plan, which continued in 1997.

** Provisional: Includes East Lothian Local Plan, which continued in 1999, and on which report preparation is still continuing.

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