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Scottish Government introduces planning bill to Holyrood
The Scottish Government has introduced a bill to Holyrood that aims to give residents a greater say in planning decisions in their areas.
The Planning (Scotland) Bill will include a new right for residents to produce their own development plans. The UK government took a similar approach through introducing neighbourhood plans in the Localism Act 2011.
The Scottish Government has been consulting with the public on the future direction of planning policy in the country.
In April the Scottish Government revealed its intention to introduce higher planning fees, particularly for larger developments.
For a development of 500 homes the current planning fee would be £20,050. Under the proposals this would jump up to £110,050. A slim majority of those responding to the government’s consultation opposed a fee hike – 52%.
The final fees arrangements have not been finalised by the Scottish Government.
A policy document published alongside the planning bill stated: “Views were mixed on these options, and will need to be looked at again and consulted upon in more detail in developing the new fees regulations.”
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The bill will strengthen the status of the National Planning Framework, bringing Scottish planning policy within the statutory development plan. It will also remove the requirement to produce strategic development plans and changes the process of producing a local development plan so there is “greater emphasis” on delivering developments.
The bill will give planning authorities more powers to take enforcement action against unauthorised development. It will also require planning authority staff to undertake training.
An infrastructure levy will be introduced in the bill that will be payable to local authorities and linked to development. This can be used to help pay for infrastructure projects that could incentivise new development.
The bill’s aims include:
- Focusing planning, and planners, on delivering the development that communities need “rather than focus on continuous writing of plans that lack a clear route to delivery”
- Empowering people and communities to get more involved and to have a “real influence” over future development
- Strengthening the strategic role of planning in co-ordinating and supporting the delivery of infrastructure needed to support development, including “much-needed” housing
- Reducing complexity, while “improving accountability and trust” in planning processes and decision-making
