Friday 23 December 2011
The Reporters final update on their HwLDP examination
'One final reporters progress update for December:'
"Reporters Monthly Progress Update for December 2011
The report was delivered to the council on 20 December, three week later than
we had hoped, but within the Scottish Governments overall examination
targets. It has been a complex exercise, and whilst not everyone will be happy
with our recommendations, we hope that our conclusions will help the
understanding of our reasons for making them.
We would like to thank everyone who has taken part in the examination,
whether through sending a representation to the council, responding to our
requests for further information, or taking part in our two public hearings. As
one of the first plans and examinations to be prepared and conducted through
the new legislative system we have been at time feeling our way, but we hope
our report will provide positive direction for the council in what will be a
challenging time delivering its future development plan programme."
Original material here
Thursday 22 December 2011
HwLDP; Reporters have sent back report to THC
The examination report can be found here
Extract from THC press release as below:
The Highland Council has received the Report of Examination for the Highland wide Local Development Plan from the Scottish Government’s Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals.
This draws to a close the independent examination of the unresolved issues following the consultation on the Highland wide Local Development Plan and now the Council can move forward towards adoption of the plan.
The unresolved issues from members of the public, community groups and the development industry have now been considered by the Reporters, who have, where necessary, made a series of recommendations as to how the Council should change the Plan These recommendations are binding on the Council and will be reported to the Planning Environment and Development Committee being held on 18 January 2012.
Some of the headline conclusions and recommendations include:
• Support for the Vision and spatial strategies for Highland as a whole;
• Support for the development of the A96 growth corridor between Inverness and Nairn including developments at Tornagrain, Beechwood Campus, East Inverness and Nairn;
• Support for population projections and the housing land supply needed in the Highlands, which are deemed reasonable and in line with Scottish Government policy and guidance;
• Removal of a residential expansion allocation at Culloden Moor;
• Support for developments at key sites in Ross-shire and Caithness, including Nigg, and John O’ Groats;
• Support for all of the general policies of the plan subject to some modifications.
For full piece click here
Wednesday 14 December 2011
Would this be your 'City Vision'?
The letter makes the following points;
'Cities are this country's economic engines and the centre of creativity. People move to cities to find jobs and earn more. Ninety per cent of us live in cities, so the form of our urban settlements must be sustainable. This means compact, polycentric cities.'
'There is no shortage of brownfield sites – England has 66,000 hectares which could be used for building – and while there is a need for more well-designed dwellings, there are 750,000 homes lying empty and 22 million homes which should be retrofitted. Some 330,000 dwellings have planning permission but have not been built.'
'The movement back to cities is to be encouraged. '
'A green belt helps to contain the city and protect the countryside.'
Do you share this 'vision'?
Updated DPS with Scottish Government
Development Plan Scheme
The Highland Development Plan Scheme 2011 has been reviewed and updated for November 2011. This has been submitted to the Scottish Government for their consideration. The updated document is available at the link below:
The Highland Development Plan Scheme has 3 purposes:
- to explain what future local development plans for Highland will contain;
- when they are likely to be produced;
- and how individuals, communities and organisations can be involved in making these plans.
Taken from THC web page here
Get up to date with the Development Plans Team
THC web page here
For the most up to date news on the work of the Development Plans Team (and more) please follow our twitter account, 'Like' our Facebook page and check out our blog:
http://twitter.com/highlanddevplan
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Highland-Local-Development-Plans/302808897189
Housing in the Countryside and Siting and Design
Highland Council web page here
The Highland Council have reviewed the Interim Supplementary Guidance: Housing in the Countryside and Siting and Design. The document is available on the link below:
The guidance is used to highlight how The Council will interpret and implement the policy set out in its development plans relating to the development of housing in the open countryside. The guidance largely covers the implementation of policy within the most pressured “hinterland of towns” area.
If you would like to discuss the document further please contact Malcolm Macleod on 01463 702 506 or by e-mail to malcolm.macleod@highland.gov.uk.
Development Plan Policy Guidance
Below taken from page here on Highland Council web page
Development Plan Policy Guidance (or Supplementary Planning guidance) is founded upon the development plan. It provides more detailed guidance for Local Plans (where the guidance is founded on the Structure Plan), for development control, for developers and for the public on the interpretation of specific policies contained in the development plan. It must, however, be read in conjunction with the development plan.
- Flood Risk and Drainage Impact Assessment (Consultation Draft, September 2011)
- Affordable Housing (revised August 2008)
- Education and New Residential Developments - (August 2009)
- Highland Renewable Energy Strategy & Planning Guidelines (May 2006) - under partial review
- Houses in Multiple Occupation (November 2008) - August 2011 Draft under consultation
- Housing in the Countryside (August 2011, Committee version, subject to amendment)
- Open Space in New Residential Developments (May 2009)
- Dingwall Riverside Development Brief (Jan 2010) - copies available on request
- Dingwall Developer Contributions (pdf, 2992 kb)
- Access to Small Scale Rural Developments - in preparation
- Pre-application advice for Major Developments
- Access to Single Houses and Small Housing Developments
- Special Landscape Area Citations
- Construction Environmental Management Process for Large Scale Projects (1203kb)
- Managing Waste in New Developments Interim Supplementary Guidance
- Sustainable Design Guide: Interim Supplementary Guidance
- Trees, Woodlands and Development Interim Supplementary Guidance
- Onshore Wind Energy (Draft) Supplementary Guidance
- Green Networks Interim Supplementary Guidance
- Physical Constraints (Draft) Supplementary Guidance
- Highland's Statutorily Protected Species (Draft) Supplementary Guidance
Details of any consultation on draft Development Plan Policy Guidance (or SPG) is also available
Tuesday 13 December 2011
Trees, Woodlands and Development
The purpose of this Supplementary Guidance is to ensure that applicants seeking planning
permission effectively consider and subsequently manage existing trees and woodlands, as well
as identifying opportunities for planting and management of new trees and woodlands. This
enables planners to make quicker, efficient and more consistent decisions.
Pages 19-22 may be of particular interest to those with an interest in a current planning application in Nairn town centre.
(With thanks to the HC Forestry Officer, Mr Stuart for taking the time to answer my questions this morning)
Monday 12 December 2011
JESSICA
Just in from Scottish Government, 'Housing and Regeneration Newsletter':
"Published today, Achieving a Sustainable Future, Scotland's Regeneration Strategy sets out a £175 million programme of investment to support the country's most disadvantaged communities, transforming the prospects of the people who live there.
You can download the document from our website."
"Part of the regeneration investment set out in the strategy includes a £50 million SPRUCE Fund created with the European Commission and the European Investment Bank, through Scotland's JESSICA (Joint European Support for Sustainable Investment in City Areas) Fund, which is now open for business.
North and South Planning Committee membership confirmed
As noted from links in Agenda (item 17) for forthcoming Highland Council Meeting
South Planning Applications Committee (19 Members)
Mr E Hunter (12) Mr B Wynd (18)
Mrs M Davidson (13) Mr L Fraser (19)
Mr H Wood (13) Mr A S Park (19)
Mr A Graham (14) Mr J Crawford (20)
Mrs J Campbell (15) Mr T Prag (20)
Mr D Kerr (15) Mr S Black (21)
Mr N Donald (16) Mr D Fallows (21)
Mr D Henderson (16) Mr D Cameron (22)
Mr J Gray (17) Dr M Foxley (22)
Mr R Balfour (18)
North Planning Applications Committee (17 Members)
Mr G Farlow (1) Mr M Rattray (7)
Mr D MacKay (2) Mr R Durham (8)
Mr G Smith (3) Mr P Cairns (9)
Mr D Bremner (4) Mr D Chisholm (9)
Mr R Coghill (4) Mr B Barclay (10)
Mr I Ross (5) Mrs I McCallum (10)
Mrs I Campbell (6) Mr H Fraser (11)
Mrs A Sinclair (6) Mr I Renwick (11)
Mr M Finlayson (7)
West Link Working Group minutes now available
Minutes of Meeting of the Inverness Trunk Link Road (West Link) Working Group held in Committee Room 1, Council Headquarters, Inverness on Thursday, 10 November 2011 at 2.00pm.
Minutes of Meeting of the Inverness Trunk Link Road (West Link) Working Group held in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Inverness on Thursday, 17 November 2011 at 4.00pm.
Confusingly both these notes state that the next meeting will be:
...in accordance with the timetable set out, another meeting take place on 27 January 2012 at 10.30 a.m.
Then
Date of Next Meeting -
The Working Group NOTED that it’s next meeting take place on 27 January 2012 at 10.30 a.m.
Good news from the second round of the Community Council elections (12/12/11)
Council web site reports - click here
16 of the 19 Community Councils in the Highlands that had gone into abeyance last month will be able to continue following a second round of elections.
When the deadline for nomination closed at 4 pm on Friday 9 December, 12 Community Councils received sufficient nominations to form a Community Council ie they attracted half or more than their maximum entitlement (7-13). They are:-
Caithness: Bower
Sutherland: Tongue,
Ross: Gairloch, Fearn.
Skye: Glendale, Broadford and Strath, Skeabost and District.
Inverness: Merkinch, Inverness South.
Nairn: East Nairnshire,
Lochaber: Nether Lochaber, Glencoe and Glen Etive.
There may be elections in Dunvegan, Lairg, Raasay and Sleat, where more nominations than the maximum membership were received. These would take place via a postal ballot early in the new year. Candidates have until 4 pm on Tuesday to withdraw their nomination, so the picture can change.
The three community councils which remain in abeyance are Caol, Inverness Central and Laggan (where they operate a community association instead and were never going to form a CC).
-ends-
Saturday 10 December 2011
Changes to SNP Ministerial Team
I received this info via my on-line sign up to the Scottish Government 'Engage for Education' e newsletter.
First Minister Alex Salmond recently announced changes to the Scottish Government ministerial team.
Angela Constance has been named as the Minister for Youth Employment, following the First Minister’s announcement of the new post last week.
Aileen Campbell will move to Ms Constance’s previous role of Minister for Children and Young People, and Derek Mackay joins the government as the Minister for Local Government and Planning. (My underline)
Full item here
Friday 9 December 2011
Possibility that 'New Town' application could be decided in first quarter 2012
Watch the blog for more info
Wednesday 7 December 2011
Views of 'New Town' on the A96 as seen from a viewpoint at Brackley
The 'New Town' on the A96 from a viewpoint on the A96 near Kerrowaird
A96 New Town - from a Minor Road above Fortrose
Several very interesting pictures in short report submitted as part of the latest consultation for the Highlands' 'New Town' on the A96 - views of the 'New Town' as it spreads it seems.
Click here to access report on Highland Council e planning pages
Council welcomes Scottish Government’s infrastructure plans
Extract from here
The Highland Council has welcomed the Scottish Government’s plans for substantial investment in Scotland's rail network; the dualling of road network between all of Scotland's cities, including the A 9 Perth – Inverness and the A96 Inverness – Aberdeen road; and the upgrading of the A 82 between Fort William and Crianlarich.
The Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment, Alex Neil, made the pledge as he published the Scottish Government's Infrastructure and Investment Plan, which details plans for up to £60 billion of spending right up until 2030.
Key points include:
- Transport - the Scottish Government will dual the A9 between Perth and Inverness by 2025, with a view to completing dualling of the A96 and the dualled road network between all our cities by 2030; complete construction of replacement crossing over the Firth of Forth by 2016, and invest in substantial rail improvements, reducing journey times between Edinburgh and Glasgow, from Aberdeen to the central belt, Aberdeen to Inverness and on the Highland Main line
- The plan includes high speed rail, and estimates a cost of £15 billion for completion of the route, from North West England to Scotland, with a Scottish contribution of £8 - 9 billion. Minister's will continue to press for this to come to Scotland at the earliest opportunity, although final decisions on timing and route rest with the Westminster Government
Monday 5 December 2011
Reneging on affordable housing committments
'Planning' reports:
Leeds councillors have accused developers of using an interim housing policy the city council agreed earlier this year to renege on affordable housing commitments.
Leeds City Council's interim affordable housing policy, agreed in February, included a provision to reduce the percentage of affordable homes that developers must include in their schemes in an attempt to stimulate the local housing market.
But councillors say that six or seven developers, who before the policy was introduced used appeals to overturn refusals of their applications to build on greenfield sites, have since used the interim guidance to resubmit applications that include fewer affordable homes.
Phil Crabtree, the council's chief planning officer, said: "Councillors have become aware that some developers who have benefited from recent appeal decisions for developments with higher levels of affordable housing are now resubmitting applications with the lower targets agreed in February."
A report by the council's regeneration scrutiny board, discussed last week, said the new policy "has resulted in the majority of developers reneging on previous undertakings and providing reduced numbers of affordable homes".
The board recommended that the council's executive board should debate whether or not to reinstate the 2008 housing targets that were in place before the interim policy was adopted. A spokesman for the council said it was likely that this would be discussed early next year.
Mark Lane, a partner in the Leeds office of planning consultancy DPP, warned that the council could "stifle development" if affordable housing requirements were increased.
He said: "It's not developers being greedy. The council's own studies found that housebuilding is not viable in certain areas in the city with certain rates of affordable housing."
More here
Handover of Council houses in Nairn
The first new council houses to be built in Nairn for 16 years will soon be allocated to tenants.
8 2-bed bungalows for older people at Corsee, Nairn, have been completed and have been handed over to the Council by contractor UBC Group Ltd.
Tenants have been identified for the properties and hopefully will move in before Christmas.
The cost of the project is £770,000.
Councillor Margaret Davidson, Chairman of the Council's Housing and Social Work Committee, said: "After an absence of 16 years, it is great to back providing council houses in Nairn. The new homes at Corsee will provide eagerly-awaited accommodation for older people.
"The Nairn homes are part of a wider Council house building programme, currently featuring 202 houses throughout the Highlands. Our longer term target is to build 750 council houses by 2015."
THC web site here
Sunday 4 December 2011
First in series of Community Engagement events
From Scottish Government web page here
29/11/2011
Planning Minister Aileen Campbell will today meet with community and other groups to discuss how to ensure communities are properly engaged in the planning process.
The meeting will focus on how involving local people in planning, especially when a project is controversial, can lead to better decisions and a more efficient planning system.
Ms Campbell will ask people with practical experience of community engagement to talk about which techniques for engaging people have worked in practice, and ways to make sure the system works better.
The meeting, in Edinburgh, will be the first of a series of community engagement events. Ms Campbell will lead similar meetings around the country in the next few months.
Following the meeting, Ms Campbell will meet chief executives of agencies including SEPA, Historic Scotland, Transport Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage, Architecture and Design Scotland and Scottish Water to feed back the points raised with her at the engagement event, before sharing some of her findings with MSPs at the Cross Party Group on Architecture and the Built Environment.
Planning Minister Aileen Campbell said:
"Planning is at the heart of delivering the Scottish Government's goal of sustainable economic growth.
"But if we want to have an effective planning system, we must also have effective community engagement. Good community engagement can lead to better plans, better decisions and a more efficient planning system.
"I'm delighted to be hosting this meeting, the first of a series, to hear the experiences communities have had of the planning process and to find out what community engagement techniques work in real life.
"I know from experience that not every planning discussion is clear cut. But I want to ensure there is proper dialogue, so that all voices and interests can be part of the debate."
Invitees to the meeting include representatives from Planning Aid for Scotland, Heads of Planning Scotland, the Royal Town Planning Institute and representatives of community groups from across Scotland.
APTSec recently sent the following email to Ms Campbell;
Dear Minister
We have been totally overwhelmed by our experiences of planning over the last few years. One of our members was in touch with PAS recently and Mr David Wood at PAS mentioned that you were keen to find out how the new planning act was performing. For some time now we have felt that our input into the planning system is not meaningful and carries little weight. The new planning reforms have not improved matters and in fact in our particular circumstances have made things worse.
We desperately want to take a constructive part in the development of our community but feel marginalised and it is becoming increasingly difficult to find the motivation to continue. Please could you help us to find a way to restore our faith in the system and please could we send you a note of our experiences to date for your serious consideration.
Sincerely
A Ministerial visit to the Highlands to meet with the community would be most welcome.
Friday 2 December 2011
HwLDP not quite ready says Reporters' Monthly Update
Highland-wide Local Development Plan
Reporters' Monthly Progress Update for November 2011
"Work has continued finalising the report and many of the Schedule 4 forms
have been proof read and cleared for final inclusion in the report as a whole.
Unfortunately, it has not been possible to meet the hoped for target of the end
of November for delivery to the council. Some of the issues turned out to be
more complex than anticipated in terms of the background reading needed and
the evidence before them.
The reporters are now working on the final sections of the report and are
optimistic of delivery to the council before Christmas."
THC web page here
West Midlands, 'Sex on a Stick' for Development Sites; good grief
Claims that the West Midlands is 'sex on a stick' for potential sites for a series of 'villages of the future' feature in today's newspaper round-up.
'Regeneration and Renewal'; more here
Pension funds could pay for Large Scale Schemes
The expert who advised the Labour government on its eco-towns policy has called for a new town development delivery vehicle which would use pension fund cash to buy land for proposed new large-scale developments.
so says headline in 'Planning'; more here
Thursday 1 December 2011
Public Say on Nairn Sandown
Public to have their say on future development of Sandown, Nairn (01/12/11)
Members of the public are to have their say on a masterplan for the future development of land at Sandown to the west of Nairn.
The Highland Council has agreed that an architect-led charrette (workshop) will take place early in the New Year to allow the local community and other interests a detailed say in the design and detailed lay out of this area of Nairn, which is owned by the Nairn Common Good Fund.
A charrette is an interactive design workshop, held over a number of days, that allows the community, local authorities and a wide range of stakeholders to come together to design and develop a community masterplan.
It is a dynamic process that typically involves public launch and conclusion meetings with topic-based design workshops in between.
The design process is iterative with discussion translated into emerging designs which are presented for further debate and discussion. These principles will be applied to Sandown.
Council Convener Sandy Park said: “The result we are looking for is a masterplan informed by a wide range of views where everyone has had a chance to shape proposals. The Scottish Government is very supportive of this charrette-style working and believes it should form a central role in the design of new and regenerated places and neighbourhoods.
“The aim is collaborative working, combining technical, professional and community knowledge to create positive places. We hope the local community and other interests will participate enthusiastically and we will publish further details soon.”
-ends-
From THC web page here
Friday 25 November 2011
Visit 'for free' weekend
From Scottish Government 'Weekly Round-up'
Many (but not all) of Scotland's top visitor attractions will open for free this weekend with others offering discounts on entry as part of the St Andrew's Day celebrations.
Attractions include:
Includes Dallas Dhu Distillery, Forres
Elgin Cathedral
Fort George
Urquhart Castle
Swim for free in HIGHLANDS
Highland wildlife park
plus lots of stuff in central belt.
Check web page as linked above for specific details
APT blog traffic up on this time last year
I should not rest on my laurels however and APTSec would always welcome a few more readers for the blog.
What next, a request for guest contributions perhaps?
Back to basics again; some planning Q and As
From Perth and Kinross council web site (more here)
Is there a legal definition of development?
The legal definition of development includes building and engineering operations and changes to the use of and or buildings. This can include building walls, erecting new buildings, altering buildings, new roads and accesses, conversion of buildings, and demolition. Planning permission may also be required for some business premises and businesses working from home.
Why control development?
Over 140,000 people live in the area and many more visit to work, to shop or for leisure. Because of this, the way any land or building is used or the way a building is designed can affect many people. We have a legal duty to control development so that land and buildings are used sensibly, in a way that is best for the whole community and the environment.
What are the benefits of controlling development?
Some of the benefits of properly controlled development are:
- Ensuring that new houses are connected to roads and sewers, and have shops and schools nearby
- Keeping noisy or dirty industry away from residential areas
- Ensuring that new buildings are well laid out and at home with their surroundings
- Conserving countryside and good farmland
- Ensuring that the road system can handle new developments
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