Introduction
1. The Scottish Planning Policy ( SPP) and National Planning Policy Guideline ( NPPG) series is being consolidated into a single, shorter document as part of the commitment to practical and proportionate planning policies outlined in Delivering Planning Reform. The consolidation is not a review of national planning policy - existing policy is being presented in a different way and the duplication, advice and background information is being removed. Some adjustments to existing policy were proposed in the draft consolidated SPP, which published on 1 April 2009. The proposed changes were:
- No separate section on skiing developments have been included, therefore development plans will no longer be required to include specific policies on skiing developments.
- The requirement to classify the coast into one of three types in the development plan has not been included, although the distinction between the types has been retained to act as a general guide to development on the coast.
- National maximum parking standards applied to specific types and scales of development have not been included but the overall policy on using maximum parking standards has been retained.
- The policy on new junctions on trunk roads and motorways has been amended to reflect the current policy position of Transport Scotland.
- Policy on the protection of prime quality agricultural land has been strengthened to clarify the circumstances in which development may be acceptable.
- A new section on the Scottish Government's expectations for community engagement in the planning system has been added.
2. A strategic environmental assessment ( SEA) of the draft consolidated SPP was undertaken, focusing on the effects of proposed policy changes and omissions. The assessment did not examine the effects of established policies. The Environmental Report was published on 1 April 2009.
3. Since the publication of the draft consolidated SPP two significant pieces of legislation have been passed by the Scottish Parliament which have implications for national planning policy. These are the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009 and the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009. Changes to national planning policy to reflect new legislation need to be incorporated into the final SPP and an assessment of the effects of the proposed changes is required as part of the SEA.
4. The Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006 requires planning authorities to exercise their development planning functions with the objective of contributing to sustainable development. It also allows Scottish Ministers to issue guidance on this responsibility. In March 2007, draft statutory guidance on planning and sustainable development was published for consultation. This statutory guidance was incorporated into the draft consolidated SPP. Taking account of representations made on the draft consolidated SPP, the sustainable development section has been reworked to provide clearer guidance. The reworked sections are being assessed as part of the SEA.
5. Additional policy changes being proposed relate to:
- The replacement of Circular 12/1986 Planning Control over Onshore Oil and Gas Operations with a section in the consolidated SPP - the National Planning Framework identifies coal bed methane as a potential source of energy and requires planning authorities in the Central Belt to consider the potential for onshore gas extraction when preparing development plans. Circular 12/1986 is out of date therefore updated policy is proposed to support implementation of the NPF requirement.
- Alterations to the policy on national high amenity single use business sites - national planning policy previously identified and safeguarded large single user high amenity sites with special qualities in terms of location, quality and marketability. These large sites were targeted at high technology inward investment. This policy was not carried forward into the consolidated SPP. Taking account of representations made on the draft consolidated SPP, a specific policy on the future of these sites and the supply of high amenity business locations is proposed.
- A revised coastal planning policy - coastal planning policy had been partly revised in the draft consolidated SPP however representations received during the consultation identified some inconsistencies with the policy which need to be rectified.
Further adjustments to the coastal planning policy, new policy on high amenity business locations and revised policy on onshore oil and gas operations are therefore being assessed as part of the SEA.
6. This statement outlines the propsoed policy changes identified above. An addendum to the Environmental Report accompanies this statement. The description and evaluation of the likely significant environmental effects of the proposed policy changes and alternatives that were considered are set out in the addendum to the Environmental Report.
7. The consultation on the proposed policy changes and addendum to the Environmental Report will run for 6 weeks, from 1 October 2009 until 12 November 2009. Consultees are asked to avoid using this period simply to restate any views they have already expressed on the draft consolidated SPP. Rather, this stage gives consultees the opportunity to contribute to the drafting of the consolidated SPP by expressing any views they have on the proposed policy changes outlined in this statement.