South Ayrshire Sustainability Partnership 4 September 2013
“Introduction to Planning and the Environment - An Overview”
Neil Feggans, Development Planning & Customers Team Leader, Planning Service
Ground Rules
Don’t wish to discuss:
specific planning applications or proposals
merits of development plan policies/sites/proposals
What planning does?
Regulates and controls the development and use of land, in the public interest
Shapes physical, economic, social and cultural environments
How does planning do that? -Legislative ContextTown & Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997
Specific definition of “development”
Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006Introduces objective of contributing to sustainable
development in exercising planning functions
Related & subordinate legislation
Prescribes what planning authorities must do
How does planning do that? – Policy ContextScottish Planning Policy (2010) – under review
• Statement of Scottish Government policy on various planning topics e.g. Housing, retail, wind farms, minerals, access
Planning Advice Notes (PANs)Suite of Govt. best practice advice on planning matters
National Planning Framework (NPF) 2 (NPF3 draft)Identifies Govt. national priority developments
How does planning do that? –Main Strands3 main strands of Planning:
Development Plan (planning policy)
Development Management (planning applications & enforcement of planning control)
Environmental/Other Planning Matters
Development Plan
•Policy framework for assessing planning applications
• Allocates land for different purposes e.g. Housing, industry
• Provides certainty to investors/developers and public as to where different forms of development can/can’t take place
Development Plan and Policy
Negotiation
ImplementationPlanning Application
Community Engagement
= Investment Certainty
=Promote development = Quality environment
= Economic Development
Development Plan• evidence based•Process of stakeholder engagement
• key agencies e.g. SNH, Historic Scotland, SEPA
• Public consultation
•Current Development Plan comprises• AJSP (2007)• SALP (2007)
•Proposed LDP – approved for examination (2013)
Development PlanPolicies that seek to protect:
Historic environment – scheduled monuments, listed buildings, conservation areas, designed landscapes
Natural environment – designated sites (SSSI, LWS) protected species, biodiversity, landscape, trees
Outdoor access/active travel routesPolicies promoting good designPolicies supporting:
Renewable energy developmentsGalloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere ReserveCSGNAyrshire & Galloway Dark Skies Park
Supplementary guidance – more policy detail
Development ManagementProcessing applications for planning permission,
listed building consent, advertisement consent etc.
Enforcement of control e.g. Conditions, unauthorised development
Must determine applications in accord with Development Plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise
Some Material ConsiderationsScottish Planning PolicyPlanning history of siteResidential amenityLandscape/townscape impactImpact on built & natural heritage e.g designated sites,
protected species, scenic areasDesign – materials, height, scale, massing, layout and
relationship to surroundingsPublic access rightsRoad access, parking, road safety Economic benefitLegitimate public concern/support on planning matter
Environmental/Other Planning MattersHistoric environment – policy/strategy, conservation area
designation/appraisals/management plans, listing proposals
Natural Environment – wildlife (sites and species), landscape
Tree Preservation/Enforcement - TPOs, TWAs
Outdoor Access
Implementation - projects