Welcome to the October planning update from Savills' Scottish Planning & Regeneration Team. Please click on the links below to obtain further information on the identified topics.

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. Materplanning? Planning Advice Note 83 tells you how
PAN 83 has been released by the Scottish Government, its sets out the requirements of masterplanning in development. It highlights the role masterplanning has in helping to achieve successful places and a sustainable future for Scotland.

3. Renewable Energy - 2011 targets met, further opportunities up to 2020
The Scottish Government Energy Minister, Jim Mather has released new figures on the total amount of renewable electricity schemes either already operating or with planning permission.

4. Flood Risk, Climate Change and Marine Bills to be brought forwards in 2009
The Scottish Government has set out its legislative agenda for the coming year. How will these Bills affect the property industry?



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, 36KB)

For further details contact Patrick Dunne +44 (0) 141 222 5879



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2. Materplanning? Planning Advice Note 83 tells you how

Planning Advice Note 83 (PAN83) on masterplanning was approved by Scottish Ministers in September 2008. The document gives guidance on when masterplanning is necessary and how best to carry out and produce a masterplan document.

A masterplan can be prepared for almost any site but there are certain types of sites or circumstances where a masterplan is most likely to be appropriate. In general they are prepared for areas of large-scale change such as town extensions; regeneration projects; town and city centres; housing developments; and places where significant environmental assets require protection.

The PAN recognises that there is no set rule for creating a masterplan with most masterplanners having their own style and approach. Despite this the PAN sets out a simplified process for creating a masterplan to use as basis for the production of the document.

A masterplan can typically be prepared in 4 stages:

Stage 1: Site appraisal. Good design depends on thoroughly understanding the site. In most cases there will be a need to assess in terms of its physical/environmental characteristics, social factors and economic needs.

Stage 2: Analysis. The next stage is to assemble all the information from the site appraisal and establish the relevant policies which need to be taken into account, including planning policy, design guides and site specific development vision opportunities.

Stage 3: Developing the design. Design concepts should be worked up using the information gathered at the previous stages in the process.

Stage 4: Testing the design concepts and finalising the masterplan. Once the design options have been firmed up, it is useful to test the design concepts, at this stage it may be useful to present the masterplan in three dimensions to better visualise the site and its design concept.

View the new Planning Advice Note on masterplanning (PDF, 2.89MB)

If you have any further queries regarding the Planning Advice Note on masterplanning, please contact Iain Pattenden +44 (0) 141 222 4103.

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3. Renewable Energy - 2011 targets met, further opportunities up to 2020

Jim Mather, the Scottish Government Energy Minister has stated that Scotland is set to surpass its renewable energy target for 2011. There is currently 5.5 Gigawatts of capacity within renewable electricity schemes either already operating or with planning permission. This level of capacity is enough to take Scotland past the target of generating 31 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2011.

Mr Mather was quoted as saying that

'Scotland has won the energy lottery. Our renewable resources have been estimated at more than 60GW, ten times Scotland's peak electricity consumption.'

It was also underlined that the current Scottish Government will not consider further nuclear power, 'our people don't want new nuclear power and we don't need it,' said the Energy Minister.

The target for 2020 is set at 50 per cent and as such the development opportunities will therefore continue to grow.

For further details contact Iain Pattenden +44 (0) 141 222 410.

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4. Flood Risk, Climate Change and Marine Bills to be brought forwards in 2009

All three of these Bills which are part of the Scottish Governments legislative programme over the next twelve months have serious potential impacts for the property sector.

Flood risk management could limit the scale, design and location of development.

The Climate Change Bill could set minimum limits on the energy performance of new development and introduce energy labelling for existing buildings.

The Marine Bill may bring coastal and inshore waters into the planning system, providing opportunities for renewable energy generation but perhaps placing new restrictions on existing maritime business and industry.

The progress of relevant legislation will be monitored through this newsletter and the implications on the planning and development sector will be discussed as the Bills are adopted.

For further information please do not hesitate to contact Gail Addie +44 (0) 141 222 4101

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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