This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Praise for Scotland's top planners
28/02/2002
Examples of planning good practice throughout Scotland were recognised today at the Scottish Awards for Quality in Planning 2001 in Edinburgh.
39 nominations were received covering the 3 categories of development control, development planning and development on the ground.
In all six awards and 12 commendations were presented by Iain Gray, Social Justice Minister.
Award winners were by category:
Development control -
- Aberdeenshire Council for "Aberdeenshire Council's customer care initiative" - the council has, after listening to its service users, taken steps to harmonise service standards. Emphasis on better face-to-face contact and better information for both users and case officers, making good use of new technology.
- Shetland Islands Council for "Shetland's New Regime for the Aquaculture Industry" - Created a new planning-led marine development control regime. Use of new technology resulted in the successful combining of land and sea based map data.
Development planning -
- The Highland Council, Scottish Homes and the Highland Small Community Housing Trust for "Highland Rural Partnership for Change Pilot Project" - This pilot project tackling the longstanding issue of affordable housing combines excellent partnership working with a highly productive use of information technology. It is an excellent model for rural areas and contains practical lessons for tackling affordable housing right across Scotland.
- Stirling Council for "Stirling's Use of New Technology in Mainstream Policy Planning"-
Outstanding demonstration of how new technology and the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) can be used to generate results presented in a way that people can easily understand. Work on housing land audits and housing needs assessment gives a lead which many authorities will want to follow.
Development on the ground -
- Fife Council and Fife Historic Buildings Trust for " West Wemyss Townscape Heritage Initiative, Fife" - West Wemyss village has been in decline for over a century. Community involvement has been at the heart of this initiative. Life is now returning to the village, attractive buildings have been restored, well-adapted houses are occupied and the village shop and pub have reopened. An attractive environment has been created in which new building and further private restoration can continue.
- Arbroath Abbey Partnership for "Arbroath Abbey Visitor Development" - Creating the new visitor centre has led to related improvements to the entrance to the Abbey aimed at enhancing the attractiveness of Arbroath as a visitor destination. This outstanding contribution to the appreciation of Scotland's heritage, in which the planning service has played a full part, has involved the local community.
Presenting the Awards, Iain Gray said:
"I am delighted to be presenting these awards which recognise the high quality work going on in the planning process throughout Scotland.
"I am impressed by the range of nominations and their geographical spread. A number of the nominations are collaborations involving the public, private and voluntary sectors and they highlight what innovative partnership working can achieve.
"The Executive is determined to modernise the planning system in Scotland. As Minister with responsibility for planning, I want to see a planning system that is fit for the 21 st century.
"New technology has a key role to play in the modernisation agenda and I would endorse the judges comments that the planning profession should work with other stakeholders and users to make the most effective use of new technology.
"However, the role of new technology must be considered in the context of a clear understanding of how the planning service can be made more efficient and effective. Raising the standard of development in rural and urban Scotland is one of the Executive's key priorities.
"These Planning Awards have certainly played their part in improving the planning service and its outcomes on the ground. I am therefore pleased to confirm that we will be running a 2002 Awards scheme."
Commendations were awarded as follows:
Development control -
Stirling Local Democracy & Quality Decision Making (Stirling Council);
West of Scotland Archaeology Sites & Monuments Records (West of Scotland Archaeology Service);
Aberdeen: Broadford Works Design Brief (Aberdeen City Council).
Development Planning -
Midlothian Shawfair Local Plan & Shawfair Devt Manual (Midlothian Council);
Falkirk's GIS & Development Plans (Falkirk Council);
Moray Draft Indicative Forestry Strategy (Moray Council, Forestry Commission, Forest Enterprise and Scottish Natural Heritage);
Moray GIS Inward Investment Project (Moray Council);
Glasgow City Draft Local Plan (Glasgow City Council).
Development on the Ground -
Glasgow Graham Square Redevelopment (Glasgow City Council);
Wishaw Greenhead Moss Community Nature Park (Greenhead Moss Community Trust);
Moray Local Access Initiative (Moray Council and 4 Community Access Groups);
Dunoon Bishops Glen Project (Argyll & Bute Council).
Local authorities have the primary responsibility for operating the planning system in Scotland. They deal with applications for development under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997, and prepare development plans as the policy context for their decisions.
TheScottish Awards for Quality in Planning were first launched in 1997 to recognise and encourage quality in planning. They have attracted more than 170 nominations over the five years to date. 39 nominations were received for the 2001 Awards.
Planning authorities in Scotland are being recognised further afield for their quality work. Stirling, South Lanarkshire, Highland and Shetland Councils and the Glasgow and Clyde Valley Structure Plan Committee collected prizes at the RTPI National Awards in London last month.
Nominations for the 2001 Awards were assessed by three independent judges Barbara Illsley of Dundee University, Gordon Mann of the Crichton Development Company and Andrew Raven, a former member of the Scottish Consumer Council.
As in previous years, the Awards are being run in association with the Royal Town Planning Institute.