Scotland planning news, October 2018

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Scotland planning news, October 2018

01 Oct 2018
       

Contents
 
 
 
 
 
 
01
 
Scottish Government’s Programme for Scotland 2018/19 published
 
 
02
 
Planning (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2 update
 
 
03
  
£4m loan fund for self-build homes announced
  
     
 
  
 
     
 

Headline news

  
     

Scottish Government’s Programme for Scotland 2018/19 published

The Scottish Government has published its annual Programme for Scotland outlining the actions the Government will take in the coming year.
‘Delivering for Today, Investing for Tomorrow’ focuses on several priority actions, including: building ‘an economy fit for the future’; investing ‘in the modern infrastructure a strong economy depends on’; ‘ensuring that growth is environmentally sustainable’; and creating ‘a fairer country’.
In terms of investments, the Programme for Scotland outlines plans to invest an additional £7bn for infrastructure by the end of the next Parliament, focusing on ‘hospitals, schools, houses, transport, low carbon technology and digital connections’. Furthermore, an additional £160m will be invested in affordable housing over this Parliament, to ‘ensure that more than 50,000 affordable homes are delivered, including at least 35,000 for social rent’.
Further commitments relate to establishing a Scottish National Investment Bank, announced last year; it is the Government’s intention to introduce the necessary legislation in the coming year. The First Minister said:
‘The bank will provide patient finance for ambitious companies and important infrastructure projects - and it will do so in line with defined national missions, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions.’
Specifically for planning, the First Minister confirmed that the Scotland (Planning) Bill will progress ‘in the coming months…[to] ensure people get a chance to have an early say in shaping developments in their area’. Further commitments include the revision of Scotland’s National Planning Framework (NPF4) ‘to develop a spatial vision for Scotland until 2050, supported by a delivery programme which consolidates infrastructure investment, health and climate change objectives into a single plan’.
Finally, the Programme for Scotland confirms the ongoing work ‘to modernise and support the use of compulsory purchase orders to regenerate communities and deliver essential infrastructure’.
The Scottish Government has also pledged to set out ‘what is needed to deliver a world-leading digital planning service and how we will achieve this transformative change’ in November 2018.

Scottish Government, Programme for Government ‘Delivering for Today, Investing for Tomorrow’Scottish Government, Programme for Government, First Minister speech

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Quote of the month

  
     
     
     
 

Of course, for investment in housing, and infrastructure more generally to benefit communities fully, we need a fair and effective planning system. In the coming months, we will progress the new Planning Bill through Parliament and ensure that people get a chance to have an early say in shaping developments in their area.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announcing the Scottish Government’s Programme for Scotland 2018/19		  
     
     
 

Planning (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2 update

Following the conclusion of Stage 1 in May 2018, the Planning (Scotland) Bill is currently being considered by the Local Government and Communities Committee at Stage 2.
The Committee has now scrutinised the Bill in three different sessions (on 12, 19 and 26 September), agreeing a series of amendments that include:
  1. The introduction of a ‘Purpose of planning’ section before section 1; subsection 2 specifies that ‘the purpose is to manage the development and use of land in the long term public interest’ (amendment 115, 1st Marshalled List of Amendments);

  2. The amendment of section 1 to require the Scottish Ministers to request advice from the relevant body on the compatibility of the draft National Planning Framework with statutory climate targets (amendment 219, 1st Marshalled List of Amendments);

  3. The insertion of a new subsection to section 1 relating to the procedure for bringing into effect the National Planning Framework, the draft version of which should be approved by resolution of the Scottish Parliament (amendment 39, 1st Marshalled List of Amendments);

  4. The introduction of a new section relating to ‘Housing needs of older people: parliamentary report’, which requires the Scottish Ministers to report (‘at the end of each 2-year period’) on how the planning system operates to meet the housing needs of older people (amendment 188, 2nd Marshalled List of Amendments);

  5. The introduction of a requirement for strategic development planning authorities to prepare an evidence report for the preparation of their strategic development plan, including procedural matters and what the report should cover (amendment 189, 2nd Marshalled List of Amendments);
The next Stage 2 session is currently scheduled for 24 October 2018.

Scottish Parliament, Planning (Scotland) BillScottish Parliament, 1st Marshalled List of Amendments for Stage 2Scottish Local Government and Communities Committee, 24th Meeting 2018 Minutes, 12 September 2018Scottish Parliament, 2nd Marshalled List of Amendments for Stage 2Scottish Local Government and Communities Committee, 25th Meeting 2018 Minutes, 19 September 2018Scottish Parliament, 3rd Marshalled List of Amendments for Stage 2

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£4m loan fund for self-build homes announced

Scotland’s Housing Minister Kevin Stewart has announced the opening of a £4m loan fund to support self-building across Scotland. The fund was set up following a successful pilot in the Highlands.
Announcing the opening of applications, the Housing Minister said:
‘We know that people are interested in building their own homes and in some cases, it is the best way for families to tailor their homes to their needs.  However, we also know that it can be tough to secure funding and get the right advice, which is why we set up the self-build loan fund to help those that need to access finance.’
 

Scottish Government, More money for self-build homes

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The Lichfields perspective

  
     
     
     
 

It’s reassuring – on paper at least – to see how the Scottish Government is increasingly making the link between a more effective planning system and the investment in housing and infrastructure that is needed to benefit more communities fully. But alongside a highly ambitious Programme for Government for the coming year, its approach is currently leading to a Planning Bill that has potential to become overly detailed, overly onerous and inflexible. This is exactly what isn’t needed if planning is to help shape Scotland in the best way possible.

Gordon Thompson, Associate Director		  
     
     

 

Disclaimer: This publication has been written in general terms and cannot be relied on to cover specific situations. We recommend that you obtain professional advice before acting or refraining from acting on any of the contents of this publication. Lichfields accepts no duty of care or liability for any loss occasioned to any person acting or refraining from acting as a result of any material in this publication. Lichfields is the trading name of Nathaniel Lichfield & Partners Limited. Registered in England, no.2778116 

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