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
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