South Ayrshire Sustainability Partnership 4 September 2013

“Introduction to Planning and the Environment - An Overview”

Neil Feggans, Development Planning & Customers Team Leader, Planning Service

Ground Rules

Don’t wish to discuss:

specific planning applications or proposals

merits of development plan policies/sites/proposals

What planning does?

Regulates and controls the development and use of land, in the public interest

Shapes physical, economic, social and cultural environments

How does planning do that? -Legislative ContextTown & Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997

Specific definition of “development”

Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006Introduces objective of contributing to sustainable

development in exercising planning functions

Related & subordinate legislation

Prescribes what planning authorities must do

How does planning do that? – Policy ContextScottish Planning Policy (2010) – under review

• Statement of Scottish Government policy on various planning topics e.g. Housing, retail, wind farms, minerals, access

Planning Advice Notes (PANs)Suite of Govt. best practice advice on planning matters

National Planning Framework (NPF) 2 (NPF3 draft)Identifies Govt. national priority developments

How does planning do that? –Main Strands3 main strands of Planning:

Development Plan (planning policy)

Development Management (planning applications & enforcement of planning control)

Environmental/Other Planning Matters

Development Plan

•Policy framework for assessing planning applications

• Allocates land for different purposes e.g. Housing, industry

• Provides certainty to investors/developers and public as to where different forms of development can/can’t take place

Development Plan and Policy

Negotiation

ImplementationPlanning Application

Community Engagement

= Investment Certainty

=Promote development = Quality environment

= Economic Development

Development Plan• evidence based•Process of stakeholder engagement

• key agencies e.g. SNH, Historic Scotland, SEPA

• Public consultation

•Current Development Plan comprises• AJSP (2007)• SALP (2007)

•Proposed LDP – approved for examination (2013)

Development PlanPolicies that seek to protect:

Historic environment – scheduled monuments, listed buildings, conservation areas, designed landscapes

Natural environment – designated sites (SSSI, LWS) protected species, biodiversity, landscape, trees

Outdoor access/active travel routesPolicies promoting good designPolicies supporting:

Renewable energy developmentsGalloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere ReserveCSGNAyrshire & Galloway Dark Skies Park

Supplementary guidance – more policy detail

Development ManagementProcessing applications for planning permission,

listed building consent, advertisement consent etc.

Enforcement of control e.g. Conditions, unauthorised development

Must determine applications in accord with Development Plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise

Some Material ConsiderationsScottish Planning PolicyPlanning history of siteResidential amenityLandscape/townscape impactImpact on built & natural heritage e.g designated sites,

protected species, scenic areasDesign – materials, height, scale, massing, layout and

relationship to surroundingsPublic access rightsRoad access, parking, road safety Economic benefitLegitimate public concern/support on planning matter

Environmental/Other Planning MattersHistoric environment – policy/strategy, conservation area

designation/appraisals/management plans, listing proposals

Natural Environment – wildlife (sites and species), landscape

Tree Preservation/Enforcement - TPOs, TWAs

Outdoor Access

Implementation - projects

Ayr THI

Loudoun Hall & Forecourt

Dunure Castle & Dovecot

Dailly Trails Bridge

Varyag Memorial

Giant Gnomon, Prestwick

Questions ?