Scotland planning news, October 2019

 

The Scottish Government has published its timetable for implementing the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019 in its post-bill work programme to 2021.

The programme sets out when the key aspects of the Act will be commenced for the purpose of enabling ministers to prepare regulations.

The first provisions will be brought in this Autumn, with Ministers expected to lay a statement in Parliament setting out the appropriate circumstances to call-in planning applications; alongside the implementation of the Agent of Change Principle, amongst other things.

A consultation on the National Planning Framework 4 will take place in Qs 1 & 2 2020 with a draft NPF4 expected to be published in Q3 2020.

From thereon, it is expected that the majority of the Act will be implemented by the second quarter of 2021.

The programme states that guidance on RSSs will be published in Q4 2021, so preparation of RSSs will presumably follow this date.

A more detailed summary can be found in this blog on Lichfields’ website.

The Scottish Government has announced that it has assembled a National Planning Framework (NPF) team and that work has now begun on preparing the NPF4. The new Framework will provide the spatial strategy for Scotland, setting out how and where development should take place for the period up to 2050.

The team will be led by Assistant Chief Planner Fiona Simpson who is supported by Suzanne Stephen, Graham Robinson, Simon Bonsall, Ian Mitchell and Eric Dawson.

As confirmed in a letter from Scotland’s Chief Planner published in June, the NPF4 will be amalgamated with Scottish Planning Policy, and benefit from enhanced status as part of the statutory development plan following the recent passing on the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019.

A draft version of the NPF4 is expected to be published by summer 2020.

The Scottish Government has published its Programme for Government for the 2019-2020 period, setting out its legislative programme for the parliamentary year ahead.

This year’s programme, titled “Protecting Scotland’s Future”, is guided by Scotland's National Performance Framework and pays particular attention to how future legislation can help end Scotland’s contribution to climate change.

The actions are underlined by a commitment to building a fairer and more prosperous country, supporting the transition to a greener economy through driving innovation, whilst also improving the delivery and effectiveness of public services.

Some of the key levers examined include the upcoming renewal of Scotland’s National Planning Framework, the National Transport Strategy, updates to the Climate Change Plan, and the Climate Change Adaptation Programme.

Further to this, the Government has also outlined its “Green New Deal”, which aims to mobilise regulatory, fiscal and monetary powers to achieve an expeditious transition to a zero-carbon economy, with many areas of action likely to have far-reaching effects on the built environment.

Additional measures include:

• investment of more than £500 million to improve bus priority infrastructure to reduce congestion and encourage more people to use public transport;
  
  
• £11 billion of annual public procurement to support product and service innovation;
  
  
• investment of more than £500 million to improve bus priority infrastructure to reduce congestion and encourage more people to use public transport;
  
  
• decarbonising Scotland’s railways by 2035 as well as making the Highlands and Islands the world’s first net zero aviation region by 2040; and
  
  
• targeting a minimum £30 million of support for renewable heat projects.
  
  

The Programme also sets out plans for a review of Scotland’s Building Regulations, with the aim that all new homes will be supplied with renewable or low carbon heating by 2024.

In the introduction to the Programme, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon comments:

“The coming together of these fundamental reviews of government activity will mean changes in the way that we travel, live and grow our economy. By embracing these changes, we can reduce our emissions, become a driver of innovation and provide support to our communities to navigate these changes.”

The Scottish Government has published its second Scottish Climate Change Adaptation Programme.

The programme sets out the Scottish Government’s policies and proposals for the next five years, setting out a pathway for Scotland’s people, communities, businesses and public sector to prepare for climate change.

The publication of the Programme also coincides with the passing of the Scottish Government’s Climate Change Bill 2019 which will amend the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009.

The amendments will commit Scotland to becoming net-zero by 2045, in line with recommendation from the UK Committee on Climate Change. The Bill will introduce a new target of reducing emissions by 75% by 2030.

The Scottish Government has announced a new strategic partnership worth £7.5 million between the public and private sector, that aims to deliver more electric vehicle charging points and ensure the necessary infrastructure is put in place to support this.

According to a Scottish Government press release, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon commented:

“This partnership highlights the critical role that electricity networks have to play in delivering a zero-carbon energy system, and in facilitating an electric vehicle revolution and the provision of clean energy for transport.”

A range of trial projects are expected to be undertaken in 2020-2021.