Scotland planning news, March 2018
01 Mar 2018
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Headline news |
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2018 Scottish Budget set for approval
Scotland Finance Secretary Derek Mackay has announced that an agreement has been reached which will see the 2018 Budget passed by the Scottish Parliament.
Commitments included in the financial plan will support: the delivery of 50,000 new homes; increased investment in low carbon infrastructure; the exploration of new local rail services; and increased local government funding.
During Stage 1 of the budget debate, the Finance Secretary commented:
‘This budget invests record amounts in our NHS, supports our efforts to improve attainment in our schools, invests in our economy with support for infrastructure, for broadband and for innovation, and supports our ambitions to tackle climate change.’
Scottish Government, Budget stage 1
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Quote of the month |
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| Scotland’s Housing Minister, Kevin Stewart, on the inclusion of the Agent of Change principle in the new National Planning Framework | ||
Agent of Change to be included in the new NPF
New guidance on the Agent of Change principle will be included in the next iteration of Scotland’s National Planning Framework (NPF), with the expectation that local authorities will implement it immediately; consultation on the next NPF (NPF4) is expected to start in 2018 with the intention that the Framework is to be adopted in 2020.
The Agent of Change principle ensures that developers building new residential schemes near existing music venues will be held responsible for putting in place the necessary noise-mitigation measures to protect local residents.
Scotland’s Housing Minister, Kevin Stewart, commented:
‘Music venues should not have to make high cost changes or deal with expensive disputes because of new developments. Developers will be responsible for identifying and solving any potential issues with noise, giving residents of new homes a better quality of life and allowing our music venues to continue to operate.’
A Chief Planner letter has been sent to all planning authorities in Scotland, highlighting existing guidance on noise mitigation, and asking them to appropriately consider the Agent of Change principle in all their decisions.
Scottish Government, Protecting music venuesScotland’s Chief Planner, Live music venues and the Agent of Change principle
Advisory panel on collaborative economy recommends further work on short-term letting
The Scottish Expert Advisory Panel on the Collaborative Economy has published its recommendations on steps for Scotland ‘to take advantage of the growing use of digital, collaborative platforms’.
Among other topics, the report looks at how to ensure peer to peer rental is separated from running a business; as the report details:
‘There are two issues here. Firstly, the need to appropriately classify what counts as peer to peer rental (as distinct from running a business) in order to collect the appropriate taxes and classify properties appropriately in terms of any ‘change of use’. Secondly, is the need to address issues that arise in specific areas where high density tourist footfall and the concomitant existence of short-term accommodation is affecting local communities.’
The report recommends the preparation of an evidence base, to consider the introduction of restrictions on short-term rentals to take into account ‘the impact on rent/housing costs and the cost/benefit of loss of economic benefit to renters and the local areas’. In particular, if the evidence base demonstrates such a need, ‘the City of Edinburgh Council specifically – and other large Scottish cities generally - should experiment with the implementation of a 90 day restriction’.
Scottish Expert Advisory Panel on the Collaborative Economy, Collaborative Economy Final Report
Historic Environment Scotland plans for managing historic assets
Historic Environment Scotland (HES) has published its investment plan to 2021/22, which will see an initial allocation of £12m in 2018/19, with the intention being to allocate a similar level of funding in the remaining years of the programme. The Plan is expected to enhance the condition of historic sites and improve the overall visitor experience.
The first HES Asset Management Plan has also been published, detailing the approach being taken to ensure the conservation, management and maintenance of the 600 buildings and monuments covered by HES remit; amongst them, 20 sites have been identified as a priority for investment, including Edinburgh Castle, Glasgow Cathedral, and Caerlavarock Castle.
Fiona Hyslop, Scotland’s Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs, has welcomed the plans, commenting:
‘I am now pleased to see this plan for investment in our historic environment, and the infrastructure supporting Historic Environment Scotland’s wider visitor offer, which offers such a strong return for our economy, directly generating £528 million in 2017, and supporting an estimated 15,300 full time jobs in Scotland’
Historic Environment Scotland unveils new Investment PlanHistoric Environment Scotland, Investment Plan 2018Historic Environment Scotland, Asset Management Plan 2018
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The Lichfields perspective |
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| Nicola Woodward, Planning Director | ||
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