Flood Mitigation

East Inverness Flood Meeting: See last night's presentation at Culloden Academy by Neil Gillies, Director of TEC Services here.

The presentation at the link above also includes a section from the Director of Planning, Dr Black, on improved planning guidance

Plus PR release 
Council estimates £6.9m costs for Inverness East flood alleviation programme (26/10/12)

South Planning Applications Committee Meeting

South Planning Applications Committee:  The agenda and supporting papers are now available for the meeting taking place on Tuesday 30 October at Council HQ, starting at 10.30 am. The meeting will be webcast.

NPF Team provides answers to APT questions

Here are few Q and A's re the consultation on NPF3

(I received the answers promptly from the NPF Team on 11/10/12 so sorry for the delay in posting them onto the blog)

Q - How would ‘the person in the street’ know of the latest progress towards the preparation of a Third National Planning Framework for Scotland?  

Team - We are at an early stage and so the process of dissemination is gathering pace at the moment. We are working with local authorities in the first instance to get word out about NPF3. This includes information (a resource pack) being sent to planning authorities to use in their discussions with key stakeholders, as well as for community council liaison officers to send out to all community councils.  This information will be available online to download and an e-alert will highlight it.  

We are also keen to use existing networks and if you feel that members of Action for Planning Transparency would be interested in our first round of events, then we would be happy to forward you details.  This will be available later this week.

Update: I have put my name forward to attend the 12-2 session at Eden Court on the 14 November and have been publicising this local event via email and the blog.

Q - When will the details be available for the Inverness seminar, which is planned for 13^th November 2012 (according to the participation statement)?

We are sending this information out this week.  The website will also be updated and an e-alert distributed. Information on the events is also provided in the resource packs.  In the meantime, it may be useful for you to know that this will take place in the Eden Court Theatre, with a ‘drop in’ session running from 3pm-7pm.

Q - How is information being distributed with respect to the holding of the seminars; are all community councils and other identified groups being sent details? I note the reference to an ‘awareness-raising leaflet’; is this available yet?

This is currently being printed.  We are sending this out this week.

Q - Will the ‘awareness-raising’ leaflet contain details of the outcomes of the various stakeholder meetings / briefings? For example details of the local authority planning committee convenors' meeting 4/5 October 2012 or the ‘Heads of Planning’ meeting to take place in November 2012;

Where a note is prepared, we will post a summary online.  Some events will be more suited to this than others and there will be different types of outputs.  We will seek to be as transparent as possible.  

Q - Is the participation statement itself being continually updated?  If this is the case how would interested parties know that there had been updates?

Yes, and we will publish it online at key stages following updates. We will alert people to this using our e-alerts.

Q - Is it possible to sign up to get specific information on NPF3? Or will updated information be provided through other e newsletters such as ‘Planning and Building’ or ‘Consultations’?

We will be using our e-alerts.  We are also planning to send through details of those who contact the NPF directly to ensure they are included on our mailing list.

Q - How are the meetings with stakeholders – re the use of innovative public engagement methods – coming along?

We are continuing to progress this.  Our approach to the consultation has been, and will continue to be informed by discussions with people about the methods we should use.  We would welcome your views on the Participation Statement and techniques we are using.  

Q - How soon could we start to see the sorts of developments being put forward for consideration as ‘National Development’?  I note the following under ‘Jan 13’ …Following the completion of the call for national developments, in order to provide communities with early access to information, links to the proposal form submitted will be placed on the NPF page of the Scottish Government’s website.   Where the proposal is location specific, we will work with the relevant planning authority to ensure that communities potentially impacted by the development are made aware of the proposal.  Is this the earliest time that details will be available?

We are trying to ensure that information about proposed national developments is made available as early as possible in the process.   The final date for submission of proposals for national developments is mid - December. We will seek to publish submitted information online, and will do this as quickly as possible, but we will need to go through an appropriate process to do this (e.g. confirming agreement to publish with proposers), and so time will be required after the close of the call for national developments to achieve this.

Q - Is it possible for individuals or groups to register an interest in providing evidence to the relevant Parliamentary Committee as NPF3 progresses to the Committee Stage?  

It will be for Parliament to decide how it wants to undertake the scrutiny of the NPF.  However, we will pass this idea on.

Note: I asked this last question because when APT asked if we could give evidence to the Local Government and Communities Committee as part of the scrutiny on NPF2 it was too far down the line as all those required to give evidence had already been called.


Has your community council / organisation received any information?  Please feel free to post a comment and share your experience / views with readers.

Review of Scottish Planning Policy; Convenors' briefing

Thanks to Helen Wood (Principal Planner SG) for forwarding these details:


The briefing note



Scottish Planning Policy SPP:

·         Is a statement of Scottish Government policy on land use planning

·         Informs : 

-          the content of development plans

-          decisions on planning applications, and

-          how proposals are developed, from concept to implementation 

·         Contains national planning policy on :

-          Coal mining

-          Coastal planning

-          Communications infrastructure

-          Drainage

-          Economic development

-          Fish farming

-          Flooding

-          Green belts

-          Historic environment

-          Housing

Landscape-          

Minerals

-          Natural heritage

-          Onshore oil & gas operations

-          Open space

-          Physical activity

-          Renewable energy

-          Retailing

-          Rural development

-          Town centres

-          Transport 

Waste management

·         A review of the SPP was announced to Parliament on 18 September 2012

Purpose of the Review

·         To bring it up-to-date : most of the policy was written before the economic down turn

·         To focus the policy on sustainable economic growth : to ensure the policy gives appropriate weight to the viability and delivery of development

·         To emphasise place making : delivering good quality, successful and sustainable places requires maintaining and improving the built and natural environment of Scotland

Process

·         The Scottish Government is committed to encouraging interest and involvement in the preparation of the revised SPP

·         A Participation Statement outlines how and when interested parties can get involved

      http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/planning/National-Planning-Policy/newSPP/Participation

·         A Priorities for Change proforma asks stakeholder what policy works, what doesn’t and what the solutions may be

      http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/planning/National-Planning-Policy/newSPP/Ideas

·         A Strategic Environmental Assessment Scoping Report sets out the proposed approach to the SEA of the SPP and NPF – and is available for comment

      http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/planning/National-Planning-Policy/npf/NPF3/scoping

Timetable

                                                                    

·         Autumn / Winter 2012/13                  Pre-draft engagement & drafting

11^th Jan.2012                                    Priorities for Change – Proformas to be returned

·         Spring 2013                                       Publish Draft SPP & stakeholder engagement

·         Summer 2013                                   Analyse responses & re-drafting

·         End 2013                                           Publish finalised SPP

Further Information

Web site                www.scotland.gov.uk/planning/SPP 

Telephone             Carrie Thomson        0131 244 7529

                              Helen Wood              0131 244 7534

Why am I so 'worked up' over NPF?

Just in case you are wondering why I am getting 'worked up' re getting involved in the consultations for  the Third National Planning Framework, here are some important points extracted from the Scottish Government web pages  - at the link here

(Developments in the A96 Corridor were put forward by Highland Council and included in NPF2 as 'spatial perspectives'.  I believe, for some very complex reasons which I will not go into at this time,  that this inclusion had a profound effect on local democracy)

What is NPF3?

The National Planning Framework (NPF) sits at the top of the hierarchy of Scottish development plans.  Once published in June 2014, NPF3 will set out the Scottish Government's strategic development priorities over the next 20-30 years.  It can designate ‘national developments’.

What does being a national development mean?

The NPF is used to identify certain projects as “national developments”.  National developments are essential to Scotland's strategic spatial development. Major strategic transport, water and drainage and waste management infrastructure projects may fall within this category of development. 

Many of these will already have been the subject of consultation and debate as part of the development of other strategies and programmes.  Identification in the NPF should be the mechanism for establishing the need for such developments.  The purpose of the designation is to facilitate the developments through the consenting process.

What are the implications for my local authority’s decision making?

On a strategic level, development plans will be required to accord with NPF3.

Where a planning application is required for a national development, there are some additional steps in the planning process.  These are:

• there must be pre-application consultation, including with the local community;
• the local authority must hold a pre-determination hearing; and
• the authority’s decision on the application must be made by the full council

When and how can I get involved?

See details at link here

Director of Planning replies to Highland NPF3 National Development question

You will recall that I wrote the following to The Highland Council's Director of Planning (email sent 10/10/12):

Good afternoon Dr Black

Would it be possible to advise me as to whether or not Highland Council has submitted or intends to submit any ‘National Development Proposal Forms’ as part of the early stage of the NPF3 Consultation process.

His reply has just arrived:

Dear (APTSec)

We are currently formulating a list of projects that are proposed to be submitted for consideration as National developments.  As part of this work we are in discussion with neighbouring authorities about making joint submissions on certain issues to help strengthen the case for their inclusion in NPF3.  The list of projects will be considered by the Planning, Environment and Development Committee on 14^th November 2012 and, as such, will be available to view on the Council’s committee webpages a few days in advance of the Committee date.

Yours sincerely,

Stuart Black

So, keep a look out on the Council's web site; if you click on the words Planning, Environment and Development Committee - first up on the list under 'Strategic Committees' - at this link here the Wednesday 14 November 2012 meeting agenda should be up on the web by 12 noon on Friday 9th November.

Don't forget

National Planning Framework 3 and Scottish Planning Policy Consultation Events in November 2012

November 13th 2012

Inverness – Eden Court Theatre

12pm - 2pm Stakeholder Event (pre-registration required)

3pm - 7pm Public Event (drop in at any time)

• Stakeholder events, aimed at local authorities, public and private organisations. This will include a presentation and discussion session. Invitations are being issued directly to key stakeholders, but there may also be some space available for others to come along. Participants must register their interest in attending with thenpfteam@scotland.gsi.gov.uk by October 26, 2012.
• An open public ‘drop in’ event, that anyone can attend, whether an individual, group, public or private organisation. This will be informal and participative, with officials from the NPF3 and SPP teams attending to discuss views and answer questions on a one to one basis. There is no need to pre-register for these events  
  
  Link here

More on politics and planning

Carrying on with the subject of 'politics and planning'.

The business law firm dwf has the following (08/10/12) on one of its web pages:

...A bit like buses, ministerial statements come along in pairs!  On 18 September the Scottish Planning Minister gave a parliamentary update on planning reform.

The system in Scotland has been through a significant change, a process that started under the Labour/Liberal Democrat coalition, then continued under the SNP minority and now SNP majority governments.  However throughout that process the various Scottish Governments have all made clear that they see the planning system (and planners) as a useful tool to implement their primary policy objective of sustainable economic growth.  Their perspective seems to be different from that south of the border.  

(Full item here)

And on a 'Ryden' (Commercial Property Consultants) web page, in an 'Ask an Expert -Planning' item, one of their consultants answers a number of questions, including:

What is the biggest issue in planning?

Without a doubt it’s planning reform...

Why does planning need a culture change?

The Government wants a more efficient and effective planning system, one which can deliver development and associated jobs. There is a desire for planning to be identified as an enabler and not an obstacle to overcome.

Culture change relates primarily to public sector performance given the nature of the reforms proposed. However, I believe that it is as much about the private sector embracing these reforms and adopting a positive approach. 

What do you think of the reforms so far?

I think it’s a mixed bag with some successes but it needs to transcend all local authorities so the improvement in service is consistent across the country. That said, it probably isn’t the best time to judge given the state of the markets we operate in and the impact on the development process generally.

How do you think this change can be achieved?

What do your clients expect from the new system?

How likely is it that the reforms will be successful?

For the full item and the answers to the other three questions please click on the 'Ask an Expert' link above.

"Strong political leadership has led to a simpler, more efficient planning system in Scotland"

...Strong political leadership has led to a simpler, more efficient planning system in Scotland, its outgoing Chief Planner has contended.  Addressing an agendaNi seminar, Jim Mackinnon remarked that planning had “more opportunities for public involvement, guaranteed by statute, than any other area of public policy.”

(Quote taken from http://www.agendani.com/reforming-scottish-planning  The site states, 'This entry was posted on Friday, August 24th, 2012 at 8:28 am and is filed under Economy, Environment, Planning.')



Well, there may be "more opportunities for public involvement, guaranteed by statute, than any other area of public policy" but effectiveness of  these opportunities  is what counts and if I felt at the system was working well then I would not be running this blog.

Planning and land value creation

An interesting leaflet can be found here

It begins: 

The value of land depends on the use that can be made of it...

Inverness Councillor strives for clarity over replacement of sporting facilities

Here is a very interesting question - posed by Cllr Ross which appears on the agenda for next Thursday's Highland Council meeting** link here

(ii) Mr G Ross

To the Leader of the Council

“With the West Link Route in Inverness now going out to the design stage, can the Administration confirm that any planning gain monies received will be utilised to ensure the new sporting facilities and the relocation of the Golf Course and Highland Rugby Club are developed in tandem with the new road, river and canal crossings?”

The response to Mr G Ross (16kb pdf) is circulated.

Mr Ross will be entitled to ask a supplementary question which will be answered by the Leader of the Council.

Let us hope that Cllr Ross is able to find out why his initial question has not, it seems, been answered, and the council appears not to be in any kind of a position to ensure that new facilities will be being put in place as the old ones are being lost.

(**A meeting of the Highland Council will be held in the Council Chamber, Council Headquarters, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness on Thursday, 25 October 2012 at10.35am.)

Working closely together on Inverness development

Council Press Release 19/10/12

Extract

...Inverness is set to see the first major regeneration in the City Centre for a number of years following the granting of planning permission by The Highland Council for an 8-storey-high building for student accommodation.   This £6m development is the first phase of a £30m re-generation project within the Rose Street and Farraline Park areas of Inverness City Centre.

The first building will accommodate 105 students in modern purpose built residential apartments, each with their own en suite facilities and private study areas. The developers, Inverness Properties Ltd, are delighted that the application was approved by the officials under Delegated Powers.   Gary Johnston, for G H Johnston Building Consultants Ltd, said that working closely with The Highland Council Planning Authority and The Inverness Civic Trust meant that the building could be sensitively sited and designed, taking into consideration the wider scope of the regeneration area.

Councillor Prag welcomed the closer relationship between developers, designers, the council and the Civic Trust on this project. He said:  “We are keen to work with applicants and others to refine projects at an early stage in the process and this is a good example of where it has worked. This is an important site on the edge of the conservation area and it was vital that it looks good, as well as providing an important boost to the vitality of this part of town.”

John West commented that the Trust welcomed the opportunity to discuss new developments and to raise with developers any concerns which the Trust may have.  As the result of discussions, the building was redesigned and a solution was reached that was acceptable to the Trust, The Highland Council Conservation Officer and Inverness Properties Ltd.

FULL ITEM here

e-Planning back up

From 15/10/12

The Highland Council can announce that access to the e-Planning service is now available for use. Problems occurred last week which caused the system to be closed down so repairs could be carried out.

Link here

East Inverness Flood Meeting on Oct 25th

The Highland Council has set a date for a third public meeting to discuss flood alleviation measures  at  Balloch, Culloden and Smithton. The meeting will be held on Thursday 25 October 2012 at Culloden Academy, Inverness, starting at 6:30pm.

Details and background here

What will Highland Council be proposing?

After I read this on Wednesday 10 Oct...

National Developments Proposal Form

The Scottish Government is to prepare the third National Planning Framework – ‘NPF3’ - the spatial strategy for Scotland. This will identify a number of ‘national developments’, establishing the need for them in the national interest. The Scottish Government is therefore requesting the submission of proposals for national developments, using the attached Proposal Form, by Friday 14 December 2012.

Link here

...I sent this in an email to the Director of Planning at Highland Council...

Good afternoon Dr Black

Would it be possible to advise me as to whether or not Highland Council has submitted or intends to submit any ‘National Developments Proposal Forms’ as part of the early stage of the NPF3 Consultation process.

Kind Regards,

etc

...I received a response immediately...

Dear (APTSec)

Thank you for this e-mail. This is to confirm that I have received it and I will reply as soon as possible.

Yours sincerely,

Stuart Black

Hopefully I will be able to update the blog in the not too distant future with the Director's response.  I am working on the assumption that any submission for a candidate National Development will have to go or will have gone before the strategic planning committee, PED - the next one seems to be scheduled for November 14th 2012 (timetable here)

Making the most of communities’ natural assets: green infrastructure

From the S Government web site link here

An information note for Community Planning Partnerships on applying an ecosystems approach.

Monday, September 10, 2012 

The information note is for community planning partnerships, their members and local partnerships involved in economic regeneration. The note explains how communities and those who serve them can use land and water in a way which works with nature to sustain the benefits nature provides. It suggests some practical steps to make the most of green infrastructure and provides links to further information and examples. This note supplements the information note on applying an ecosystems approach to land use published in 2011 alongside the Scottish Government's Land Use Strategy, as well as the National Planning Framework, Scotland's Climate Change Adaptation Framework, the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy, and the Regeneration Strategy. It has been prepared by Scottish Government and its agencies, with input from a range of stakeholders, as a source of information but is not statutory guidance.

Link to Information note here