The Scottish Government has used its devolved powers to create planning and housing arrangements that are unique to Scotland and this section of the Member website is intended to introduce and fully reflect the Scottish approach.
From August 2009 the majority of the Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006 will be in force with regard to Development Planning and Development Management (including appeals, local reviews and enforcement). Scottish Ministers are responsible for the National Planning Framework for Scotland (NPF) which sits at the top of the policy hierarchy and is the long term strategy for the development of Scotland over the next 25 years. The National Planning Framework is supported by the Scottish Planning Policy (a final consolidation to arrive at a single document is expected completed before the end of 2009; meanwhile Scottish Planning Policy 3 - Planning for Homes (2008) sets out the Scottish Government's policy on the identification of housing requirements, the provision of land for housing and the delivery of homes through the planning system) and Planning Advice Notes (PAN), and the latter include a number that relate specifically to housing - PANs 44, 67, 72 & 74.

The Scottish Government's Firm Foundations consultation set out a commitment to further the integration of land use planning and housing strategy through a strengthened national policy framework. The strategic assessment of housing need and markets is a key component of this and Housing Need and Demand Assessment Guidance is available. The guidance sets out an approach to provide evidence to inform the development of Local Housing Strategies and Development Plans. 

A Scottish Government and CoSLA  publication in 2008 ‘Local Housing Strategy Guidance’ proposed that the submission of local housing strategies will be linked to the submission dates of development plans. This approach will aid both efficiency and transparency. But it does rely upon the two professions having a rather more intimate understanding of each others skills, successes and working timescales. The Network can make a particular contribution here.

EVENTS:

Raising our Game? - Tuesday 28 June, Stirling
SFHA Community Regeneration and Social Enterprise Conference;  this event will also see the launch of the SFHA's report "Raising The Bar", which has been looking into how social enterprise can be accelated across the housing association sector.

Affordable Housing - New models under the microscope
The presentations from this CIH event held in Glasgow in May 2011 will be available shortly.

The Planning System: Making it Work for Housing 
In late 2010 CIH & RTPI in Scotland offered a joint Conference event addressing current shared issues. The presentations are available via this link.

LATEST POLICY & PRACTICE NEWS:

New models?
Homes for Scotland has said that “new models using tenure neutral policies and structured innovative ways which allow the private sector to deliver affordable housing under its own direction …..must be part of a new affordable housing formula”.

Scottish Priorities
Announcing the Scottish Government’s priorities for the final year of its parliamentary term, First Minister Alex Salmond pledged to include a new £50 million scheme, the joint European support for sustainable investment in city areas programme, to lever in cash from Europe as well as public and private sector partners.

Scottish Social Housing Charter
Alex Neil, Minister for Housing and Communities, welcomed comments on the Scottish Social Housing Charter website. Amongst the early submissions is the comment that “a good landlord when entering into plans for newbuilds should take into consideration 'breathing space' in the new homes. The rooms in new developments at present appear to be shrinking in size, leaving no room adequate to sustain decent living space”. In early 2011 the Scottish Government will publish a discussion paper which will set out in the light of comments the Government's intended approach.

Decentralisation and Localism Bill
This Bill that was included in the Queen's Speech will give Councils more powers over housing and planning decisions and begin a review of local government finance and will apply to England and Wales but implications for Scotland cannot be ruled out because of the "wide scope" of the Bill.

Community Engagement
Planning Advice Note 3/2010 Community Engagement has been published by the Scottish Government.

Scotland Land Use Strategy for 2010
Scotland has taken the first steps towards developing a land use strategy for the 21st century with new research published from the first event Land Use Summit. The research found that rural land makes up 97% of the country, accounts for one in every 6 jobs and generates over £17bn a year for the economy. The Summit aimed to promote the development of Scotland’s first integrated Land Use Strategy to help meet 21st century challenges such as food security, energy production and tackling climate change.

LATEST PUBLICATIONS:

Scotland's People Annual Report: results from 2009 Scottish Household Survey
A National Statistics publication for Scotland, providing information on the composition, characteristics and behaviour of Scottish households and adults on a range of issues, both nationally and at a sub-national level. It covers a wide range of key topics including household composition; housing; neighbourhoods and communities; economic activity; volunteering.

Affordable Housing Investment Programme for 2010-11
The Scottish Government has published full details of its Affordable Housing Investment Programme (AHIP) for 2010-11. As anticipated, the total expenditure is £471m and takes account of the of the £120m capital spend brought forward into earlier years from that planned for 2010 -11.

CURRENT CONSULTATIONS:

Speak Up for Rural Scotland
This is a 2010 consultation document from the Scottish Government containing advice provided by the Rural Development Council.

Author:

Andrew Matheson

Publisher:

The Royal Town Planning Institute

Date:

19-May-11

Categories:

 

This article has been read 2272 times.