SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT, DIRECTORATE FOR THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT

What do they do?

The role of DBE is to work in partnership with others towards implementing a modernised planning system that supports the Scottish Government’s central, overarching purpose of increasing sustainable economic growth. They state that the outcome should be well designed spaces and buildings that are safe, healthy, efficient and sustainable.

Their key responsibilities are:

Supporting Scottish Ministers in delivering the national outcomes.
Maintaining and developing planning legislation.
Representing SG interests in development plans, notified planning applications, recalled appeals and other casework that comes before Scottish Ministers.
Preparing and monitoring delivery of the National Planning Framework.
Providing clear and proportionate planning policy and advice.
Facilitating the dissemination of good practice.
Promoting high quality design and place making.
Leading and co-ordinating the implementation of e-planning.


They state on the web page that there are two main themes to the changes that are taking place to modernise planning:

What people do – the processes & How people do it – the culture

Process:

The DBE states that the focus of the Planning Divisions in recent years has necessarily been on the legislative and policy processes of the planning system and that they are committed to completing the remaining aspects of this.

Some of their stated Process IMPROVEMENTS FOR 2009/2010 include:

• Completing the regulatory framework for planning reform.
  
  Publishing the National Planning Framework and associated Action Plan in Summer 2009 and bringing together relevant stakeholders to monitor progress.
  
  Publishing the consolidated SPP by the end of 2009.
  
  Supporting key stakeholders in the delivery of planning reform.

Culture:

They state that they will focus on influencing the attitudes and behaviours of how stakeholders put new processes in place, emphasising communication of information and partnership working which will assist in accelerating the pace of reform and achieve the intended outcomes.

Some of their stated IMPROVEMENTS FOR 2009/2010 include:

• To improve opportunities for key stakeholders to meet with their peers and SG staff to discuss, question and share best practice as the new system comes into place, for example visits by the Chief Planner to all planning authorities; road shows for front line staff and elected members; a new annual Convenors meeting; continue an annual Heads of Planning meeting; and good practice forums.

• To improve the liaison role with planning authorities by being more proactive and supportive, placing greater emphasis on regular and purposeful discussions, particularly on development plans.
  
• To improve The Planning Advice Series as a way of communicating advice and information on technical planning matters. Out-of-date and irrelevant PANs will be revoked, others will be updated and some merged together.

• To improve the focus and pace on place-making through an action programme which includes publication of Designing Streets and a new statement on Architecture policy, as well as Scotland’s first housing expo, the Highland Housing Fair.

• The delivery of exemplar developments through the Scottish Sustainable Communities Initiative.

• The delivery of exemplar developments through the Scottish Sustainable Communities Initiative. (SSCI)

Please refer to the link below for the orignal information as presented on the Scottish Government Web Pages

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/212607/0082535.pdf

APTSec is currently concerned as to what impact this will have on the public involvement. agenda. APT is also concerned about reference to the Highland Housing Fair and to the SSCI. The SSCI has named 2 exemplars from Highland - Tornagrain and An Camas Mor in Aviemore.

The SG DBE states that it is open to suggestions that identify how we can improve as well as explore new ways that enable the planning system to create better quality places and contribute more effectively to Scotland’s long term prosperity.

They can be contacted on:

planningmailbox@scotland.gsi.gov.uk or 0131 244 7543

And APT intends to continue to contact the Directorate as they have done many times in the past.

APT NEEDS YOU TO HELP IN THIS TASK. PLEASE CONTACT THE SECRETARY TO OFFER YOUR SERVICES.