Stage 3 - Planning (Scotland) Bill

It's been a long wait, but Stage 3 of the Planning (Scotland) Bill is now scheduled for 18-20 June.

Amendments

Kevin Stewart MSP put it bluntly:

To be frank, following Stage 2 the Planing Bill has become a guddle.

Living up to its reputation as the most amended Bill, another172 amendments have been proposed (so far). These range from short drafting clarifications, to significant new provisions. The guddle continues.....

Overview

The significant amendments proposed in Stage 3 include:

• National Planning Framework - retaining most of the priorities added at Stage 2, but replacing duplication and complexity
• Regional spatial strategies - to replace strategic development plans
• Local development plans - retaining many of the policies and priorities added at Stage 2, but removing additional reporting requirements
• Community right to appeal
• Training and performance requirements for planning authorities
• Forestry and woodland strategies
• Promotion and use of mediation
• Masterplan consent area schemes - removal of land value capture provision
• Culturally significant zones - removal
• Green belt - removal of assessment of availability of brownfield land
• Short-term holiday lets - revisals to the existing amendments
• Private ways - restrictions on permitted development rights

Addressing key concerns

The proposed amendments do little to address key concerns about delivery of development, and resourcing the planning system.