Welcome to the November planning update from Savills' Scottish Planning & Regeneration Team.

1. Rezone your land! Live and forthcoming development plan consultations
Is there a current opportunity to promote your site through a development plan review?

2. A leaner and fitter Scottish Planning System! New improvements announced
A series of improvements aimed to increase the efficiency of the planning system have been announced. These measures aim to ensure that Scotland's planning system is geared towards supporting increased sustainable economic growth.

3. A fifth consecutive annual increase in Planning Permission Appeals poses questions for the Appeals process
The Department for Planning and Environmental Appeals has released its review of the year 2007-2008. The report exhibits several key facts and figures which raise questions for the appeals process particularly as it enters a period of change.

4. Scottish Planning Policy 23 Planning and the Historic Environment approved by Scottish Ministers
The Scottish Government has formally approved SPP23 Planning and the Historic Environment. What implications will this have for development concerning historic property or landscapes?



1. Rezone your land: Live and forthcoming development plan consultations

Is there a current opportunity to promote your site through a development plan review?

Check here on the status of all development plans in Scotland. (PDF, 40KB)

For further details contact Gail Addie +44 (0) 141 222 4101



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2. A leaner and fitter Scottish Planning System! New improvement measures announced

The Scottish Government has announced measures to reduce the red tape that has dogged the planning system. The foundations of the new system were laid out in the Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006 which continues to be implemented. To support these series of changes, the Scottish Government aims to streamline the planning system by clarifying roles and responsibilities of public sector bodies, to avoid duplication and overlap, and to approach issues collectively.

It is hoped that applications will be dealt with in a more efficient and focused way, the main implications to be brought about through these changes are outlined below.

The Scottish Government will rationalise the Scottish Planning Policy document series into three parts, namely:

• Aspirations and core principles.


• Expectations for the key elements of the planning system.


• A clear statement of Scottish Government planning policy relating to development and natural and built heritage.

The documents were published on 28 October and can be found here. The third part which will involve an amalgamation of the current Scottish Planning Policy series will be published early in 2009.

The Scottish Government will scale back the amount of planning advice and instead, focus future advice on key principles.

In an attempt to improve of transparency in the system, the Scottish Government aims to formally launch the electronic planning system in Spring 2009. This will allow applications to be submitted and viewed electronically.

Planning authorities will produce a development plan scheme by end of March 2009, this will set out the timescales for the production of a new development plan within the framework of the new system.

Further details on the delivery of planning reform can be found here. (PDF, 60KB)

If you have any further queries regarding the changes to the Scottish Planning System, please contact Iain Pattenden +44 (0) 141 222 4103.

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3. A fifth consecutive annual increase in Planning Permission Appeals poses questions for the Appeals process

The Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals has released their review of the year 2007-2008. The review highlighted that 1,322 cases were progressed to decision in the course of the year, an increase of 8.5% on the previous year. Of these cases only 43 were referred to Scottish Ministers, a number much lower than at any point in the previous 5 years.

The vast majority of appeals concerned applications for residential development or other householder works. These made up approximately 70% of all appeals. Other noteworthy types of development which were subject to the appeals process, were 14 wind farm applications and 19 for telecommunications installations.

Of the appeals submitted just over 9% were considered by Public Local Inquiry with the remainder considered by written submissions. In 2007-2008 37% of appeals were allowed. When the appeal information was split into regions unsurprisingly the City of Edinburgh and the City of Glasgow Council areas were the most numerous with 111 and 119 appeals each. It is interesting to note that only 28% of appeals were successful in Edinburgh compared to 47% in Glasgow, due to the historical sensitivities in Edinburgh.

2007-2008 has seen a continued increase in both the volume and complexity of appeal cases submitted to the Directorate. The volume is again expected to increase in the coming year although the Directorate are confident that they will continue to meet ministerial targets and reduce timescales for appeal decisions. New appeal procedures will be introduced during 2009 which are expected to help to speed up the process, this will include the publishing of all case files electronically through the Directorate website.

The 2007-2008 review of the Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals can be found here (PDF, 668KB)

For further details contact Myriam Hengesch +44 (0) 141 222 4104.

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4. Scottish Planning Policy 23 Planning and the Historic Environment approved by Scottish Ministers

On 28 October 2008, the Scottish Government approved SPP23 Planning and the Historic Environment. SPP 23 will supersede and consolidate NPPG18 Planning and Historic Environment and NPPG5 Archaeology and Planning.

The policy sets out that planning authorities have to ensure that the special qualities of historic environments are safeguarded. Statutory and Non-Statutory designations are material considerations when determining planning applications:

1. Statutory - Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas, Scheduled Monuments and Designated Wreck Sites.


2. Non-Statutory - World Heritage Sites, Gardens and Designed Landscapes.

The policy recognises that the historic environment can be adapted to accommodate new uses, offering opportunities for new and creative design, whilst retaining its special character. Historic Scotland has to be consulted at the early stages of a proposal.

Overall, SPP 23 aims to encourage a positive and proactive approach by Planning Authorities to managing change in the historic environment.

SPP 23 Planning and the Historic Environment can be viewed here. (PDF, 176KB)

For further information please do not hesitate to contact Patrick Dunne +44 (0) 141 222 5879

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Please do not hesitate to contact any of the individuals identified or us for further information.


CONTACT INFORMATION

Alastair Wood - Director
+44 (0) 141 222 4102
awood@savills.com