Rural Planning Typologies Research: Final Report
SCENARIO 3:
6.60. In considering whether or not to develop a typology, it is firstly important to think about how far it is likely to be taken. Will the typology be used to help develop a better understanding of an area (characterisation) or will it have a more normative role and be taken forward to guide the development of policies? This may influence the level of detail allowed for in the approach. In this scenario, the typology would play an implicit role within the plan development stage, allowing the planning authority to consider potential development options within an area, which can then be tested in relation to market demand and sustainability.
6.61. In this scenario, it is interesting to combine this implicit, yet strategic role with an approach that allows for qualitative criteria on the environment to be identified at a local level, and then fed upwards into the local and structure plans. Although some 'top down' analyses might be useful, particularly in terms of the identification of areas which are protected for their cultural and natural heritage values, it is also useful, particularly within rural areas, to build in local communities' perspectives on how much development might be accommodated within their areas. Communities, with land manager representation, would also be well placed by working with environmental agencies and professions, to consider the extent to which these environmental constraints and opportunities relate to their wider needs for service provision and employment. The typology would provide scope for the environmentally focused approach to be intrinsically linked with related social and economic considerations.
6.62. This process is illustrated and compared with the national typological approach in Figure 6.3.
Figure 6.3 Developing local typologies based on an assessment of capacity
Real life example: Argyll and Bute
6.63. Argyll and Bute is an extensive council area, extending from Helensburgh in the east to the islands of Coll and Tiree in the west. The council area covers 26 islands including the larger islands of Islay, Mull and Jura, together with the Kintyre peninsula. Cut by a series of lochs, with intervening hills and ridges, the council area is significantly more remote than its physical proximity to the central belt would suggest. The economy is dominated by activities such as forestry and tourism, though specialist sectors such as distilling are locally important. With a history of depopulation and with sectors such as agriculture experiencing structural change, securing appropriate forms of economic growth is a key local priority while conserving the area's natural and cultural heritage.
6.64. Analysis of Scottish Executive maps of access to services and access to employment suggest significant problems across much of Argyll and Bute, confirming the importance of regeneration and economic development as council wide priorities.
6.65. At the same time, an overview of environmental designations highlights the significance and sensitivity of much of the council area, suggesting that development needs to be carefully considered in relation to its environmental impact. Equally, it highlights the opportunity for economic development that responds to the opportunities presented by the area's high quality environment.
6.66. Comparison with the simple typology (based on urban, commuter, intermediate and remote categories) indicates that the bulk of Argyll and Bute falls within the 'remote' category. The only exceptions to this are the area around Helensburgh and Gareloch (classified as commuter areas, reflecting their proximity to the A82 corridor and Dumbarton and Glasgow to the east), and the area along the eastern side of Cowal and Lochs Long and Fyne (classified as an intermediate area). With the exception of these two areas, it is clear that the national topography sheds relatively little additional light on planning policies across the area. This, therefore places even greater emphasis on the process of developing a local, or bottom up typology as a means of informing development plan policies.
6.67. Reflecting these issues, Argyll and Bute Council is in the process of developing a finer grain typology at a scale of 1:5000. The approach is based on the area's environmental sensitivity or capacity for development.
6.68. The Council has identified the following areas:
- Those parts of Argyll and Bute lying within the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park;
- Countryside around settlements - where there is a need for a planned response to development;
- Greenbelt areas close to settlements on the edge of the Glasgow conurbation where a planned response based on strict controls, settlement separation and buffer areas is appropriate;
- Very sensitive countryside where there is very limited general capacity to successfully absorb development;
- Sensitive countryside where there a limited general capacity to successfully absorb development; and
- Rural opportunity areas where there is general capacity to successfully absorb small scale development.
Conclusions - developing and applying typologies
6.69. Based on the research findings, this section has shown that rural typologies can be developed and used in a variety of different ways, with each Council area being best placed to determine their role in relation to local contexts. The examples provide an insight into the ways in which nationally defined typologies may or may not provide a starting point for such typologies. The scenarios discussed here show how the concept can be developed and applied through development plans and the development control process. When the range of potential scales, roles and aims of typologies is taken into account, it is clear that typologies have a key role to play in devising rural policies which reflect spatial differentiation across the policy spectrum.