Method of determination of Notified applications
Local Authorities
Dundee City Council: The number of applications notified to Scottish Ministers by the Council is relatively small and the number of applications "called in" for determination by Scottish Ministers is even less. The wording of the White Paper tends to suggest that planning authorities in receipt of a Direction will have the discretion whether or not to adopt the condition set out in the Direction. The Council would wish to see a dialogue taking place between the authority and SE following referral and prior to the issuing of any direction to ensure that any condition being suggested is fully understood and in particular capable of being enforced.
Inverclyde Council: The proposal that Ministers will be able to direct that notifiable planning applications be granted subject to conditions, avoiding a call in is fine but this happens so rarely that it will barely impact on performance.
Moray Council: Support in principle especially if this will negate the need to call in applications.
West Lothian Council: It is felt that the imposition of conditions on national developments, where ministers have determined to allow the local authority to determine the application, may undermine the local democratic process. If implemented, the authority and / or the applicant should have the right of appeal against such conditions.
Development Industry
Glasgow Harbour Ltd ( GHL): We support the intention to avoid the unnecessary call in of applications by specifying conditions to ensure that a particular issue is addressed by the Planning Authority without the requirement for call in.
Other Businesses
ASDA: Where an application is called in this can add considerable costs and delay. Referral back to the local planning authority with conditions may be preferable. Where an application is called in, the proposed right to determine the method through which it will be processed appears to lie with the Scottish Ministers alone. As with planning permission appeals, it should be open to the applicant to demand a public inquiry if that is what they would prefer.
Universities Superannuation Scheme Ltd ( USS): We support the intention to avoid the unnecessary call in of applications by specifying conditions to ensure that a particular issue is addressed by the Planning Authority without the requirement for call in.
Planning Consultants, Architects and Lawyers
Drivers Jonas: We support the intention to avoid the unnecessary call in of applications by specifying conditions to ensure that a particular issue is addressed by the Planning Authority without the requirement for call in.