Environmental - updates from Scottish Government Newsletter

Second version of the Planning and Climate Change Directory now available:  The directory is a 'one stop shop' of resources and guidance available for key and other Agencies to assist local authorities mainstream climate change considerations into their planning decisions.  This latest version replaces that of November 2010.
Conservation Areas: Designations, cancellations and variations to Conservation Areas should be notified to Scottish Ministers via Historic Scotland by means of a map, preferably a GIS shapefile. Historic Scotland will then update their GIS system to take account of any changes. Address: Historic Scotland, Longmore House, Salisbury Place, Edinburgh, EH9 1SH. Email: hs.urban@scotland.gsi.gov.uk



Spatial Planning Assessment of Climate Emissions (SPACE): Launched March 21, 2012, SPACE is a tool to help planners make informed decisions about the greenhouse gas implications of planning policies.  Planning decisions are crucial in order to build a blueprint for a low carbon future in Scotland



New codified EIA Directive 2011/92/EU: The European Commission has brought together all existing EU legislation on environmental impact assessment into one single codified Directive. The new codified Directive combines the 1985 Directive and its three subsequent revisions into a single Directive, without making changes to existing provisions.
The European Commission has also issued a guidance note on the application of the EIA Directive to projects related to the exploration and exploitation of unconventional hydrocarbon



Protective Expenses Orders: A consultation on proposals for new rules of court for the making of Protective Expenses Orders (capping the amount of legal costs that a challenger would have to pay the other side, if they lose, at £5,000) in legal challenges to environmental decisions by public authorities was published on January 10, 2012. Proposals also include the introduction of a similar cap - of £30,000 - on the defending party's liability to pay the challenger's costs. The consultation closes on April 3, 2012.