So, the Scottish Building Federation* has hit out at news that Highland Council faces a 45% cut in Scottish Government funding for affordable housing for 2011-12. SBF Chief Executive Michael Levack is reported to have described the cuts as “even worse than we had feared” and described them as “another hammer blow” for the Highland construction industry. Mr Levack also commented, “But this is not just disastrous for the building sector. It will do nothing to address a growing crisis in affordable housing provision in some of the most rural and remote parts of Scotland.
How would you solve this problem? How would you ensure a land supply to provide homes for the most vulnerable in our society? How did we get into this situation in the first place?
The Shelter England web pages make some very interesting comments on this issue. It is also worth reading the comment that this item drew.
(*Click here for more details from SBF web pages)
Thursday, 11 March 2010
HIE area - top of the planning approval rates ?
The Scottish Government has released the latest statistics on planning performance. Click here
It would seem - from table 13 - that Highland, Orkney, Shetland, Eilean Siar and Argyll and Bute* all have pretty healthy approval stats (Moray trails a little in comparison) as compared with the Scottish average.
It would also appear from looking at the earlier stats tables in the report that Highland receives significant numbers of planning applications. Perhaps it would be interesting to compare areas in terms of applications per head of population?
(*No separate figures given for Argyll and the Islands)
It would seem - from table 13 - that Highland, Orkney, Shetland, Eilean Siar and Argyll and Bute* all have pretty healthy approval stats (Moray trails a little in comparison) as compared with the Scottish average.
It would also appear from looking at the earlier stats tables in the report that Highland receives significant numbers of planning applications. Perhaps it would be interesting to compare areas in terms of applications per head of population?
(*No separate figures given for Argyll and the Islands)
Wednesday, 10 March 2010
'Planning Permission in Principle' (Sandown 'spin-off')
'Planning Permission in Principle', PPP, is one of the most basic concepts in planning.
The granting or refusing of planning permission is a major part of development management. Since the latest Planning Act ‘planning permission in principle’ has replaced ‘outline planning permission’. This type of application would be used when someone wants to find out whether the principle of development is acceptable before going to the time and expense of preparing detailed plans. PPP is granted subject to conditions that the development in question will not begin until certain matters (e.g. access, design, landscaping etc) have been approved by the Planning Authority or Scottish Ministers.
However, with respect to making this type of application, paragraph 3.7 of Planning Series Circular 4 2009 says:
"It is for the applicant to decide what level of detail they wish to provide. However, it is open to planning authorities to require additional information using regulation 24 (Further Information) where necessary to determine the application. While planning permission in principle is to establish the acceptability of a proposal in principle without having to develop the detailed proposals, applicants should discuss with planning authorities any additional information that is likely to be required. This may relate to matters such as design or access, traffic assessment or the requirements of other legislation, such as the EIA Regulations."
OPSI - Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 17) here
Planning Aid Scotland leaflet - Development Management here
The granting or refusing of planning permission is a major part of development management. Since the latest Planning Act ‘planning permission in principle’ has replaced ‘outline planning permission’. This type of application would be used when someone wants to find out whether the principle of development is acceptable before going to the time and expense of preparing detailed plans. PPP is granted subject to conditions that the development in question will not begin until certain matters (e.g. access, design, landscaping etc) have been approved by the Planning Authority or Scottish Ministers.
However, with respect to making this type of application, paragraph 3.7 of Planning Series Circular 4 2009 says:
"It is for the applicant to decide what level of detail they wish to provide. However, it is open to planning authorities to require additional information using regulation 24 (Further Information) where necessary to determine the application. While planning permission in principle is to establish the acceptability of a proposal in principle without having to develop the detailed proposals, applicants should discuss with planning authorities any additional information that is likely to be required. This may relate to matters such as design or access, traffic assessment or the requirements of other legislation, such as the EIA Regulations."
OPSI - Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 17) here
Planning Aid Scotland leaflet - Development Management here
Monday, 8 March 2010
Inquiry
I gave evidence at an Appeal Inquiry - regarding the proposed developments at Sandown Lands Nairn - last Friday and have to say that it was one of the most difficult and challenging things that I have had to prepare for.
I do not intend to elaborate on this blog as to what I thought of the process or give any views as to how I think and/or hope that my evidence and submissions will be interpreted - it shall be a case of 'wait and see' what the official view of the Reporters will be.
For further insight try the local blogs such as
A Gurn from Nurn (link on this page LHS)
or the press
Nairnshire Telegraph
Inverness Courier
The Press and Journal
I do not intend to elaborate on this blog as to what I thought of the process or give any views as to how I think and/or hope that my evidence and submissions will be interpreted - it shall be a case of 'wait and see' what the official view of the Reporters will be.
For further insight try the local blogs such as
A Gurn from Nurn (link on this page LHS)
or the press
Nairnshire Telegraph
Inverness Courier
The Press and Journal
Latest on Highland-wide Proposed Plan
With respect to the Highland-wide Local Development Plan, the following was revealed at the Sandown Lands Appeal Inquiry:
Click here for PED meeting minutes
Click here for the relevant committee report (agenda item 7)
As always comments and discussion here would be particularly valuable
- (As previously mentioned on the blog) ...the findings from the Main Issues Report for the HwLDP are due to go before Highland Elected Councillors in March.
- The draft Proposed Plan will be out in May and will be consulted on from June.
- As it will be summer the consultation period will be extended and thereafter the intention is to refer the HwLDP for an examination as soon as possible.
- The best estimate for adoption is late spring next year
- ...all the current major development schemes in East Inverness, Tornagrain, Delnies and South Nairn (and any which are subsequently submitted) which were identified in the A96 Corridor Framework should be taken forward in the context of the ongoing Local Development Plan work and should not be determined in advance of the preparation of the Proposed Plan;
Click here for PED meeting minutes
Click here for the relevant committee report (agenda item 7)
As always comments and discussion here would be particularly valuable
Saturday, 27 February 2010
Appearance at Appeal Inquiry
>
For those who have not seen much of me of late, perhaps a trip to this web page might give a hint as to my absence, with time spent reading what seems like an endless stream of paperwork and then adding to it by sourcing, copying and sending documentation as evidence APTSEC's Precognition . The views of all parties are presented in these web pages - Highland Council, Appellants, Local Community Councils and objectors. The Nairn Residents Concern Group NRCG, presented their 'Statement of Case' at the end of last year, and they have been working tirelessly.
The APTSEC precognition is here
No doubt the local press will keep us up-to-date as details of the Inquiry unfold and each main party states their case.
NRCG drew APTSEC's attention this morning to the following mail from the Reporters - click here
THE INQUIRY in relation to THE APPEAL BY DEVERON HIGHLAND
Inquiry start date:
For those who have not seen much of me of late, perhaps a trip to this web page might give a hint as to my absence, with time spent reading what seems like an endless stream of paperwork and then adding to it by sourcing, copying and sending documentation as evidence APTSEC's Precognition . The views of all parties are presented in these web pages - Highland Council, Appellants, Local Community Councils and objectors. The Nairn Residents Concern Group NRCG, presented their 'Statement of Case' at the end of last year, and they have been working tirelessly.
The APTSEC precognition is here
No doubt the local press will keep us up-to-date as details of the Inquiry unfold and each main party states their case.
NRCG drew APTSEC's attention this morning to the following mail from the Reporters - click here
The proposed plan will soon be upon us!
The development plans team are considering the comments on the Main Issues Report as part of the preparation of the Highland wide Local Development Plan - Proposed Plan. Timescales for publication of this will be set out at the Planning, Environment and Development Committee meeting on 17th March 2009.
It would be nice if this information could be made public. I found it in response to a comment made on the Inverness City Vision blog.
P and J reports planning and home issues
House building in Scotland has fallen to its lowest level in more than 20 years
VETERAN Highland councillors have been disturbed by the high number of successful planning appeals to the Scottish Government.House building in Scotland has fallen to its lowest level in more than 20 years
VETERAN Highland councillors have been disturbed by the high number of successful planning appeals to the Scottish Government.House building in Scotland has fallen to its lowest level in more than 20 years
A chance to view?
HIGHLAND councillors will be asked next week to agree to extend the authority’s use of webcasting to include all formal meetings at their Glenurquhart Road headquarters in Inverness once a test run ends in June.
Supermarket woes
HIGHLAND Council’s continuing deliberations on how best to invest a £250,000 contribution from Sainsbury’s towards Nairn’s town-centre regeneration programme are delaying construction of the supermarket, approved for a site on the east side of the resort.
Responses to the Highland wide Local Development Plan Main Issues Report
Over recent weeks the Development Plans Team has been looking through the responses to the Highland wide Local Development Plan - Main Issues Report, summarising the key points.
To visit the page that they state they will be 'populating' please click here
There are some interesting pieces from SEPA and the Scottish Government.
To visit the page that they state they will be 'populating' please click here
There are some interesting pieces from SEPA and the Scottish Government.
Saturday, 20 February 2010
Award-winning Planners
"The awards presentation for the RTPI Planning Awards 2009 took place on Thursday 4 February 2010 at the London Hilton, in a ceremony attended by Ann Skippers, President of the RTPI and Bob Neill MP, Shadow Minister for Local Government and Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party."
For more detail click here
For more detail click here
Friday, 19 February 2010
Senior Planners turn out today!
According to the Council's HwLDP blog, Senior planners turned out today for a meeting with key agencies and discussed the key agency involvement in the production of the Highland wide Local Development Plan to date and the need for continued partnership working to deliver planning reform in production of the proposed plan.
I am sure we are all very keen to know just what the objectives of the Highland-wide Local Development Plan will turn out to be. The content of their blog post - "how the plan objectives can be delivered" - certainly seems to indicate that whatever will be included in the HwLDP very much depends on whether or not it can be delivered.
Click here to read the planners blog post.
(All views always gratefully received)
I am sure we are all very keen to know just what the objectives of the Highland-wide Local Development Plan will turn out to be. The content of their blog post - "how the plan objectives can be delivered" - certainly seems to indicate that whatever will be included in the HwLDP very much depends on whether or not it can be delivered.
Click here to read the planners blog post.
(All views always gratefully received)
Your views duly noted
Thanks to all who have responded thus far to the call for views on how APT should plan for the future. Here is just a small selection of comments so far?
Question 1: Do you think it is important to know how much land we are using for development and where that land is?
"The reason why I would always support (and indeed, I often 'champion') planning as a system/activity/profession is because without it - we are left with only the market, and with market allocation of land, land uses and all the things that come with that (goods, services etc). So, outside all the bunkum that you've no doubt read about the planning system being there to do x, y and z (which is it's purpose, of course) - really the reason we have a planning system is that we as a society decided some time ago that the use and development of land should be regulated and strategically provided for. That means that all the red tape and regulation you're currently working through is supposed to be there to ensure that land is developed in a way that doesn't just suit the landowner, but contributes something to broader social/environmental/economic goals. Now, that of course is the key question for debate - and where planning becomes very politically contested (as you know) over whether a development constitutes something that contributes to such goals, and even what the goals should be."
Apologies in advance if all the fonts come out differently: it happens when I import from e mails
Question 1: Do you think it is important to know how much land we are using for development and where that land is?
"Most definitely - although the local plan should identify where the land is but changes in between local plans being drawn up could slip people's attention"
"Yes, clear maps really get the message across"
"PPS 1 says it is the right of the community to decide the future shape of their environment therefore its important that the community view is reflected by the planning policy teams preparing the Local Plan and the Local Development Frameworks.""The reason why I would always support (and indeed, I often 'champion') planning as a system/activity/profession is because without it - we are left with only the market, and with market allocation of land, land uses and all the things that come with that (goods, services etc). So, outside all the bunkum that you've no doubt read about the planning system being there to do x, y and z (which is it's purpose, of course) - really the reason we have a planning system is that we as a society decided some time ago that the use and development of land should be regulated and strategically provided for. That means that all the red tape and regulation you're currently working through is supposed to be there to ensure that land is developed in a way that doesn't just suit the landowner, but contributes something to broader social/environmental/economic goals. Now, that of course is the key question for debate - and where planning becomes very politically contested (as you know) over whether a development constitutes something that contributes to such goals, and even what the goals should be."
Apologies in advance if all the fonts come out differently: it happens when I import from e mails
Do you want to have your say on planning matters?
Would you welcome the chance to stand up and tell the world exactly what you think about planning in the Highlands of Scotland?
If APT hired a hall and set up a microphone would you come along and speak out in a 5 minute slot?
Would you come along and listen to what others had to say?
Would you like to hear from your councillors, politicians or even the Director of Planning for Highland?
How about hearing from local architects or other planning professionals working in the area?
What about the landowners perspective?
What is it that you feel needs to be done?
Post now or contact APTSec through the e mail address.
If APT hired a hall and set up a microphone would you come along and speak out in a 5 minute slot?
Would you come along and listen to what others had to say?
Would you like to hear from your councillors, politicians or even the Director of Planning for Highland?
How about hearing from local architects or other planning professionals working in the area?
What about the landowners perspective?
What is it that you feel needs to be done?
Post now or contact APTSec through the e mail address.
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