EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006 provides the primary legislative framework for the new hierarchy in setting out the three categories of 'national', 'major' and 'local' developments to which all developments requiring planning permission will be allocated. The Planning Hierarchy Consultation Paper set out details of the proposed classes of major development and defined local development and sought comments.
The Planning Hierarchy Consultation Paper was published in November 2007, allowing a three month consultation period. The Scottish Government received a total of 90 responses to the consultation from a wide range of interested stakeholder organisations at both national and local level and from a number of individuals.
The consultation paper included a series of questions seeking stakeholders' thoughts on the:
- number of classes of major development;
- level of the thresholds for major development;
- proposed approach to avoid regional variation;
- definition of local developments; and
- the impacts on business or voluntary sectors and societal groups.