Croy Village Developments

Scotia Homes has made a submission to the Main Issues Report for the Highland-wide Local Development Plan. This submission can be found here

Included in the submission is a letter advising that Scotia Homes will be progressing an application for Croy 'South West'. As a resident of Croy APTSec requested more information regarding this planning application from The Planning Authority. I felt it was appropriate to ask for detail, since no details of the application had been included with the submission but the submission was asking for land to be zoned to support this application.

Here is a brief summary of the answers I received:

Mr Watt was advised in a very informal meeting on 18/11/09 that any proposal for development of this scale should follow the Highland Council’s pre-application advice service as set out in the following link
Pre-Application Advice Service

As a recent post on this blog has revealed, this pre-application guidance indicates:

“There is a possibility that, under the Freedom of Information Act, The Council will be asked to provide information regarding inquiries for pre-application advice and copies of any advice provided or correspondence entered into. This information may only be withheld if its disclosure could prejudice commercial interests, inhibit the free and frank provision of advice or exchange of views during the planning process, or could prejudice the effective conduct of public affairs. Those seeking pre-application advice should provide a covering letter that sets out the reasons why, and for how long, any information relating to the case needs to remain confidential..."

I understand from Mr Hartland, Planning THC, that following the meeting on the 26/01/2010 Scotia Homes have requested, via e-mail, that the information they presented and the advice given by the Council remains confidential while legal discussions take place between Scotia Homes and the
landowner and that, "It is our assessment that, at this time, the information presented by Scotia Homes at the meeting and the advice subsequently offered is exempt from release under the Freedom of Information Act, given that its disclosure could prejudice commercial interests. Any developer promoting development of this scale requires to undertake pre-application consultation with the local community, at which time the information should be made available to the wider public."

APTSec is keen to find out from other members of the public whether they have had a similar experience. Please contact using apt e mail

"RIAS Criticise Planning Gain"

Latest from 'Urban Realm"

The Royal Incorporation of Architects have criticised the system of planning gain for “killing off” development. More here

"Latest on Dev Plans" blog update

Further to comments on the Post of 17 March (thank you Nairnbairn for keeping the debate open on this issue).

A helpful member of THC Democratic Services staff assisted me in finding that there was indeed no live link to the committee paper APTSec needed regarding the responses to the last consultation on the Inverness Local Plan, ILP. She then kindly forwarded me a copy of the sought after report.

The report summarises the representations received in respect of the consultative draft of the Inverness Local Plan etc. More than 800 individual and consul tee responses were received raising some 2000 issues for consideration.

It is worth noting at that time that policy was to prevent loss of identity and overheating in the villages and strengthening of rural settlement patterns. The Plan directed that growth in communities under pressure "does not normally exceed 25% in any 10 year period".

The big question is, on this and other issues,

How much of a 'change' in terms of 'Policy' will we expect to find?

More on this very soon.

If anyone wants a copy of this report please e mail APT apt.intouch@live.co.uk

Latest news on Development Plans

Highland-wide Local Development Plan

(Latest from the Council's Development Plan Scheme)

15 WEEK PUBLIC CONSULTATION ON PROPOSED PLAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT STARTING JUNE 2010

CHANGE AND REVIEW PLAN FOLLOWING CONSULTATION SEPT-NOV 2010

SCOTTISH MINISTERS EXAMINE PLAN JAN-MAR 2011

PUBLISH POST EXAMINATION CHANGES, MAR 2011

ADOPT AND PUBLISH PLAN AND ACTION PLAN MAY 2011

Make sure your views on the future of the Highlands are known by commenting on the Proposed HwLDP during the consultation period!

Delivering Major Developments - A Pre-Application Guide

Extract:

The Highland Council is committed to the creation of sustainable communities to ensure a balanced population growth and economic development across the area and to deliver a fairer and healthier Highlands.

To assist the delivery of these aims, and in line with the requirements of the Planning etc (Scotland) Act 2006, we have put in place new processes for dealing with major applications. The guidance outlines the procedures The Highland Council will adopt to provide effective and early pre-application advice to developers in the Highland area.

Regulations defining what a major development is have been issued by the Scottish
Government and came into force on the 6th April 2009.

Part of Disclaimer:

There is a possibility that, under the Freedom of Information Act, The Council will be asked to provide information regarding inquiries for pre-application advice and copies of any advice provided or correspondence entered into. This information may only be withheld if its disclosure could prejudice commercial interests, inhibit the free and frank provision of advice or exchange of views during the planning process, or could prejudice the effective conduct of public affairs. Those seeking pre-application advice should provide a covering letter that sets out the reasons why, and for how long, any information relating to the case needs to remain confidential.

For more information click here (HwLDP blog post) and here

Also on the HwLDP blog is an item on the new Development Plan Scheme 2010 click here

[The Development Plan Scheme sets out how Highland Council will be preparing plans for
using new land over the next year. It states:

"This document makes it easier for you to find out how far we have developed our plans and how you can get involved."!]

Welsh Council withdraws plan

Interesting item from 'Planning Daily' electronic newsletter:

Cardiff Council has voted to withdraw its Local Development Plan following criticism from the Welsh Assembly Government.

In a statement the council said: "Legal Counsel has advised that given the magnitude of the concerns raised that it is evident the plan would not be recommended for adoption and that it is highly unlikely that the Inspectors will try to overcome the concerns by recommending modifications to the plan given their significance.

The move will see Cardiff Council revert to the last adopted Local Development Plan from 1996.

More here and here

THC Meeting Rules

Extract

Standing Orders of The Highland Council Relating to the Conduct of Meetings - made by the Highland Council on 29 October 2009

Click here to view the Standing orders on The Highland Council web site (These Standing Orders will apply and have effect on and after 29 October 2009. )

Information provided further to a post on the 'Gurn'