Outer Hebrides Local Development Plan

Development Plan Scheme 2013

Newsletter

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

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Comhairle nan Eilean Siar is required to prepare and keep under review a Development Plan that sets out policies and allocations for the use and development of land in the Outer Hebrides.

In November 2012 the Comhairle adopted the Outer Hebrides Local Development Plan (LDP) and associated Supplementary Guidance, as the Development Plan to guide development in the Outer Hebrides.

This is the Comhairle’s settled view on the future use of land and informs consideration of planning applications in the Islands.

Each year we are required to prepare a Development Plan Scheme (DPS) to keep everyone up to date with our work programme and to let you know how and when you can get involved.

This is the fourth annual review of the Outer Hebrides Development Plan Scheme.

The Development Plan documents can be viewed at:

www.cne-siar.gov.uk/planningservice/localdevplan.asp

The Development Plan Scheme 2013 provides:

Stages and Participation detailing the work that we have completed, work that is underway and other work to be progressed;

The Work Programme setting it out by month the work to be completed for each stage and when public consultation has and will take place;

A Participation Statement for the stages in the process that still have to be progressed or completed.

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Achievements

This is the fourth annual review of the Outer Hebrides Development Plan Scheme originally published in March 2009.

The Main Issues Report (MIR) was completed in 2010, and the Proposed Outer Hebrides Local Development Plan and associated documents subsequently published in September 2011.

Following formal public consultation and comments received, the Proposed Plan was submitted to Scottish Ministers for Examination in April 2012. A Report of Examination setting out the recommendations and the modifications to the plan based on unresolved representations was then received from Ministers.

In line with the Report of Examination the Comhairle modified the plan which was then submitted to Scottish Ministers and advertised for intention to adopt in October 2012.

Over the three and a half year plan preparation period, some stages in the process have taken longer and others progressed more swiftly than estimated. The original anticipated adoption date in the 2009 Development Plan Scheme was August 2012. Formal adoption of the Outer Hebrides Local Development Plan was achieved in November 2012.

Concurrent to the adoption of the Outer Hebrides Local Development Plan we also published a revised Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Environmental Report which included a Habitats Regulations Assessment of the Plan.

To further support the Development Plan more detailed planning policy has been prepared for some topic areas as Supplementary Guidance:

Caravans and Temporary Buildings;

Car Parking and Roads Layout;

Conservation Area Management Plans;

Marine Fish Farming.

In December 2012 the Comhairle adopted the Outer Hebrides Local Development Plan Action Programme which sets out how the Plan’s policies and proposals will be implemented.

Stages and Participation

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Looking Forward - the coming year

Monitoring

Now the adopted Plan is in place we need to know how our plan is working. We will be reviewing the Plan to ensure the effectiveness of the policies and proposals and that it remains relevant. We want to find out if the Plan policies are robust, and if they are resulting in good development outcomes for the Outer Hebrides.

To enable this we will set up a monitoring framework this year to assess the Plan on an on-going basis. This may involve input from a variety of stakeholders and Plan users.

The Plan will be replaced at least every five years but the monitoring process is ongoing during the plan life.

The Plan monitoring framework will run in parallel with a SEA monitoring process. We intend to publish a post adoption SEA statement by September 2013.

Supplementary Guidance

Supplementary Guidance for Wind Energy Development, covering all categories of generation will be adopted by April 2013. However, this Guidance may be subject to an early review as there are specific spatial issues arising in Uist.

In addition to the on-line Local Development Plan, we will publish on-line versions of the Caravans and Temporary Buildings, and Car Parking and Roads Layout Supplementary Guidances, which will make the information easily accessible to people who need to use it.

As outlined in the LDP we will be developing further Supplementary Guidance. This year we intend to progress Supplementary Guidance in the form of a Development Brief for the Melbost Farm housing proposal sites in Lewis.

Later in the five year life of the Plan, Supplementary Guidance in the form of development briefs for further development proposal sites may be progressed including Goathill Farm and the Dormitory (Northwest) Housing site.

Housing Land Audit

We will prepare and publish the biennial Outer Hebrides Housing Land Audit which identifies available land for residential development. It details the number of housing completions, the progress of sites through the planning process, and demonstrates that there is an adequate supply of land for housing throughout the islands for at least the next five years.

Stages and Participation

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Work Programme 2013 - 14

Item Purpose Target Dates

Establish a Development Plan Monitoring framework (including SEA).

We need to know how the plan is working. To do this we will be monitoring whenever the policies are used and how much and what kind of land is being developed. Ongoing monitoring will indicate the need for review of the Plan.

Establish by March 2014.

LDP Post-adoption Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Statement.

Sets out how environmental considerations and consultee views have been taken into account within the adopted LDP.

Publish by September 2013.

Supplementary Guidance for Wind Energy Development.

Provides policy on the level of information that should accompany planning applications for onshore wind developments.

Adopt by April 2013

Supplementary Guidance for Car Parking and Roads Layout.

Publish on-line the statutory guidance on best practice for the development of new car parking and roads layout.

Go live by December 2013.

Supplementary Guidance for Caravans and Temporary Buildings.

Publish on-line the detailed framework for Local Development Plan Policy 14 on Caravan Sites and Temporary Buildings.

Go live by December 2013.

Outer Hebrides Housing Land Audit 2013.

Update housing site maps, update housing figures/tables to ensure adequate housing land available over the next five years.

Publish by December 2013.

Supplementary Guidance: Development Brief for Melbost (East) Housing Site.

Sets out policy requirements and expectations which potential developers and landowners must take into account when preparing proposals for the site. The Brief will be an important planning consideration in assessing any planning applications.

Engage stakeholders and interest groups including open day event, February to April 2013.

Formal consultation on proposed Supplementary Guidance June July 2013.

Adopt Supplementary Guidance by December 2013.

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Participation - How to get involved

Community Engagement

The Comhairle is committed to meaningful community engagement, particularly to:

involve a range of interests; build on early engagement particularly

with key agencies/stakeholders; engage with communities at an early

stage to influence the shape of plans and proposals;

tailor consultation to different planstages and/or interest groups;

provide communications/documentsthat are easily accessible and easy to understand;

listen and to fully consider representations;

maintain an open and transparentconsultation process.

The LDP and associated documents

The LDP and associated documents are available to view and download from the Comhairle website; in addition there is now an interactive online version of the plan. This Development Plan Scheme (DPS) will be published in April 2013 and hard copies be placed in 14 deposit locations along with the existing plan documents. This will be advertised in local press. All these resources can be viewed at:

http://www.cne-siar.gov.uk/planningservice/localdevplan.asp

Local Development Plan Monitoring

In order to find out how the Local Development Plan’s policies are working we will establish a monitoring framework. This may involve speaking to developers, officers who use the Plan and the public about their experiences. We will record how often the policies and proposals are being used in planning decisions and if these decisions are resulting in quality development outcomes.

Action Programme

As the Action Programme identifies organisations and individuals who help deliver the Plan we will be liaising with them on progress. The Action Programme was adopted in December 2012 and must be reviewed every two years.

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Participation - How to get involved

Supplementary Guidance

Development Brief for Melbost Farm (East)

Who will be consulted? As with any development planning process early and inclusive engagement is important. A range of bodies, groups and individuals will potentially have input to the Brief: Key Agencies; land owners and tenants; Sandwick Community Council; the local grazings committee, residents associations and local interest groups will be consulted. Given the site specific nature of this Guidance a range of contacts with direct interests in the area can be identified.

How and When consultation will take place.

Meetings will be held with interested parties between February and April. In order to maximise the opportunity for local residents or other individuals to have input to the Brief an open day type event is planned in the area in April. Following the analysis of collected information and feedback a proposed Supplementary Guidance will be presented to the Comhairle in June.

Formal consultation on the proposed Supplementary Guidance document will take place between June and July with adoption anticipated by the end of 2013.

A Development Brief for Melbost Farm West will be progressed by March 2014.

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Further Information

For further information on the Local Development Plan process you can contact the planning service:

phone the development plan team on: 01851 822690 or 01870 604990

send an e-mail to: localdevplan@cne-siar.gov.uk

write to: Local Development Plan, Council Offices, Balivanich, Isle of Benbecula, HS7 5LA

see the plan web site page: www.cne-siar.gov.uk/planningservice/localdevplan.asp

Background Information

Outer Hebrides Local Development Plan: www.cne-siar.gov.uk/planningservice/localdevplan.asp

The Comhairle Planning Service: www.cne-siar.gov.uk/planningservice/index.asp

Scottish Government Development Planning: www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/planning/National-Planning-Policy/themes/dev-plan

The Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2006/17/contents

Planning Aid: www.planning-aid-scotland.org.uk/

Outer Hebrides Supplementary Guidance: www.cne-siar.gov.uk/planningservice/supplementaryplanning.asp

Strategic Environmental Assessment: www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Environment/SustainableDevelopment/14587

List of Planning Terms: www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/07/14093848/12

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Your Plan, Your Way

Help us to improve

We are continually trying to improve the way we interact and communicate with our customers in order to provide a better service. The Comhairle would welcome your comments on your experience of the public engagement process for instance, how you consider your views or representations were dealt with in the process.

Do you have any suggestions for improving consultation and how to encourage you and others to get involved in the development planning process?

Your insight can help us to improve the process and this will lead to a better plan for all of us.

You can fill in a feedback form which is available at our deposit locations or can be completed online at:

http://www.cne-siar.gov.uk/planningservice/devplanconsultations.asp