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.

LATEST POLICY & PRACTICE NEWS:

‘Housing: Fresh Thinking, New Ideas’
This new discussion document sets out the Scottish Government's vision for a future housing policy having regard to the fragile economic climate.

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.

Crofting
The Scottish Parliament’s Rural Affairs and Environment Committee has recommended that the Crofting Reform (Scotland) Bill proceeds but also stated that regulation alone will not guarantee the future of crofting and that wider considerations, including the rural economy and the state of agriculture, must also be taken into account.

Homes in Scotland
New Chairman Gerry More has highlighted that new home output during this year would likely struggle to exceed 12,000 units – less than half pre-credit crunch levels and less then half of what is required to simply “stand still” in response to the 18,000 new households that are formed and the 11,000 homes that are demolished in Scotland each year.

Aim Higher?
In the Sunday Herald Architect Malcolm Fraser urges more and better housing: " The planning regime in Scotland follows the 'New Urbanist' orthodoxy that starts as a laudable concern for the values of traditional urban settlements. But I fear that under this banner the Scottish Government merely collaborates with housebuilders to devise better 'gob-ons', and make the roads through housing estates a bit more wiggly."

Housing Award
Moore Street Housing in Glasgow for the Molendinar Housing Association has won an RIBA Award.

Homes in Nairn
A £100m plan to build a 550-home community on the outskirts of Nairn has been rejected by Scottish Ministers. Opposed by local people who described it as “a weapon of mass construction” it was refused by Highland Council last year.and now after a public inquiry it has been refused planning permission because: “The proposed development constitutes overdevelopment of the site, adopting high densities and an urban form that is inconsistent with the character of Nairn.”

Draft Housing (Scotland) Bill Consultation
The Scottish Government has published an analysis of responses to its consultation on the Housing (Scotland) Bill 2009 which set out inter alia proposals to establish a Scottish Social Housing Charter.

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:

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:

Stirling Council Consultation on Local Housing Strategy
Stirling Council has launched its consultation on the development of its Local Housing Strategy for the next five years (2010-2015). To assist the consultation, the Council has released a Housing Issues Report which provides background information about housing in the Stirling Council area. Deadline for comments:  Wednesday 30th June 

FORTHCOMING EVENTS IN SCOTLAND:

'Network 2010' event for young property professionals - Thursday 3rd June, Glasgow

Sustainability - the right climate for change -Tuesday 8th June, Edinburgh

Details of the following two events will become available on the CIH in Scotland website:
Investing in Affordable Housing – The Next Instalment - Wednesday 14th July, Glasgow

Planning for Housing Conference - Wednesday 6th October, Glasgow

Details of the following two events will become available on the RTPI in Scotland website:
Working Together to Create Healthy Environments - September, Edinburgh

RTPI in Scotland Annual Conference - Tuesday 2nd November

Author:

Andrew Matheson

Publisher:

The Royal Town Planning Institute

Date:

25-May-10

Categories:

 

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