News
Scotland planning news, March 2020
05 Mar 2020
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Headline news |
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Scottish Government announce 2020-2021 Budget
On 6 February, the Scottish Government (SG) published its Budget setting out its spending plans of approximately £50 billion of funding for the 2020-2021 period.
SG has emphasised that this Budget will concentrate on improving public services, increasing investment to support its net-zero emissions target, increasing the productivity and competitiveness of the economy, and reducing child poverty.
As part of its Communities and Local Government Investment Portfolio, SG will provide funding amounting to £10.9 billion. It has pledged to increase investment in the Affordable Housing Supply Programme to £843 million, to help it reach its target of building 50,000 new affordable homes by 2021.
SG has also stated that it will provide targeted funding to tackle infrastructure blockages through a new flexible grant and loan fund; whilst a new Rental Income Guarantee Scheme will help support the Build to Rent sector.
Furthermore, the Budget referred to the fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4), which it says will provide a planning response to the global climate emergency. This will be informed by new interactive digital mapping tools being developed to help inform investment decisions for long-term sustainable development.
Funding has also been set aside to support the SG’s Digital Strategy, simplifying and future proofing digital planning services.
Within its Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity Portfolio, SG has confirmed it will provide a further £201 million of funding for City Region and Growth Deals, including provision for new deals in Stirling and Clackmannanshire, Tay Cities, Ayrshire and the Borderlands.
It will also ring-fence an additional £2 billion of investment in infrastructure over the next Parliament to promote the shift towards greater use of public transport and active travel; to support the delivery of its Climate Change Plan and transition to net-zero emissions.
Investment in rail forms a key part of this, with funding to deliver improved routes, new and refurbished trains, as well as substantial improvements to the infrastructure to increase capacity and reliability.
Due to the postponement of the English Budget, the spending plans have been based on provisional forecasts, and the Scottish Government have stated that the figures may be subject to changes due to uncertainties over its fiscal position next year.
Scottish Government, Scottish Budget 2020-21
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Quote of the month |
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Ensuring everyone has access to a safe, warm and affordable place to call home is at the heart of our ambition for a Fairer Scotland. The 2020-21 Scottish Budget adds to the single biggest investment and delivery of affordable housing since devolution. |
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Scottish Government publish Environment Strategy
Scottish Ministers have published an Environment Strategy for Scotland: vision and outcomes, which aims to secure the wellbeing of Scotland’s environment and biodiversity, through restoring and protecting its natural environment and ending Scotland’s contribution to climate change.
The strategy will provide an overarching framework, bringing these strategies and plans together, whilst helping identify new strategic priorities and opportunities.
It sets out the objectives for Scotland to:
- play a key role in tackling the global climate emergency and limiting temperature rise to 1.5C,
- make more efficient use of resources,
- promote a sustainable economy that develops our natural assets, and
- support a healthy environment, that encourages inclusivity and fairness.
Within the Strategy it is also stated that the Scottish Government “will seek to maintain or exceed EU environmental standards” whilst law and policy will continue to follow internationally agreed environmental principles.
Current initiatives promoted within the document include the Scottish Government circular strategy, which is largely dependent on plans to reduce waste and encouraging reuse within the construction sector. The SG previously pledged to work more closely with the development sector, to ensure building designs consider reducing waste in both new build and refurbishment, while enabling opportunities for re-use and recycle where possible.
The Strategy also highlights the recent work of the Scottish Land Commission in bringing back land which has been left vacant or derelict for long periods into productive use, identifying potential changes to policy to promote this.
Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said:
“Scotland’s natural environment is our greatest national asset and it is fundamental to our future, our health, our quality of life and our economy.”
Scottish Government, The Environment Strategy for Scotland: vision and outcomes
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