Scottish Planning Policy - 15/02/2010

The Scottish Government has this month produced a ‘Scottish Planning Policy’ statement publication. This is intended to simplify 17 existing planning policy documents, including those that affect housing, wind farms, flooding and the natural and built environment.

In the new policy statement, the Scottish Government sets out the core principles behind the modernisation of the planning system. These are:

• The system should be genuinely plan-led, with succinct development plans setting out ambitious, long-term visions for their area. They must be kept up to date, and provide a practical framework within which decisions on planning applications can be made with a degree of certainty and efficiency.
• The primary responsibility for the operation of the planning system and service is with local and national park authorities.
• Confidence in the planning system needs to be reinforced through: the efficient and predictable preparation of plans and handling of applications; transparency in decision-making and reliable enforcement of the law and planning decisions.
• The constraints and requirements that planning imposes should be necessary and proportionate.
• The system should operate to engage all interests as early and as fully as possible to inform decisions and allow issues of contention and controversy to be identified and tackled quickly and smoothly.
• There should be a clear focus on the quality of outcomes, with due attention given to the sustainable use of land, good design and the protection and enhancement of the built and natural environment. 

The full version of the new policy statement is available to download from the below Scottish Government website link:

Website: www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/300760/0093908.pdf