The current Local Development Plan (LDP1) was adopted in May 2016. The Strategic Development Plan for south east Scotland [SESplan], approved in June 2013, together with LDP1 form the statutory Development Plan for the Scottish Borders. The adoption of LDP1 included the requirement to produce Supplementary Guidance on Housing Land, in order to meet the additional requirement of 916 houses, and on Renewable Energy. The Supplementary Guidance on Housing Land was formally Adopted in November 2017 following submission to Scottish Ministers for scrutiny. The Supplementary Guidance on Renewable Energy was formally adopted in July 2018.The Scottish Government’s policy as stated in Scottish Planning Policy (SPP), published June 2014, states that the Planning Service should be plan-led with plans being up-to-date and relevant. Local Development Plans are intended to guide development for 10 years. It could be 2024 before the replacement local development plan (LDP2) is formally adopted and replaces LDP1.
The Proposed LDP2, was presented to Scottish Borders Council way back in September 2020 and was then placed on deposit for representations. In excess of 1000 responses were received, this being over double the number received at the same stage during the production of LDP1. It was March 2022, partly as a result of the COVID Pandemic, before a report was presented to the council on the representations received, and the council’s response to each of the matters raised in representations was agreed. The Proposed LDP2 was submitted for Examination by Scottish Ministers in July 2022 and Reporters have been appointed to carry out this examination. Four reporters have been appointed to assist with the speedy delivery of the Examination report [See the Scottish Government’s Planning and Environmental Appeals Division File Reference LDP-140-3].
According to the Development Plan Scheme, approved by the Council in November 2022, it is likely to be the summer of 2023 before the examination is completed. At the present time, the examination is progressing on the basis of written submissions and it will be for the lead Reporter to determine whether any formal hearings are required. The Council expects to be in a position to publicise any proposed modifications to the local development plan during the summer and adopt the local development plan in the autumn. It has to be said that this sounds rather optimistic, bearing in mind the scale of the objections that have been aroused by some of the issues, such as the proposed housing development at Netherbarns, Galashiels.
Previous local development plans have been prepared within the framework set out in strategic development plans and the Government’s National Planning Framework. National Planning Framework NPF3 was published in June 2014 and a replacement draft NPF4 was published in November 2021. The revised draft NPF4 was laid before the Scottish Parliament in November 2022. The principal proposals in NPF4 are designed to: support emerging low-carbon and zero emissions technologies; enable more renewable energy generation; help rural communities grow; and regenerate city and town centres. According to the convenor of RTPI Scotland, it is hoped that this framework will “usher in a new plan-led era that can make sure our towns and cities are greener, healthier and more vibrant”. However, he added that to make this vision of Scotland in 2050 a reality “we need to provide the appropriate resources to our planning departments to prepare local development plans and manage planning applications to guide development appropriately”.
However, the signs are not good. In its analysis of the resources in the planning service, published in December 2022, RTPI Scotland points out that whilst Planning has a vital role to play in moving towards a sustainable, resilient and zero-carbon economy, limited resources and ambition for planning can create a cycle of low-quality development and reduce confidence in the planning system and local authorities. According to the analysis, the Planning Service is the most severely affected of all local government services in terms of budgets with a reduction of 38% since 2010. Planning application fees only cover 66% of their processing costs. Planning department staff has been cut by 25% since 2009. The Planning (Scotland) Act 2019 will substantially increase the number of duties on planning authorities without providing new resources. Data gathered from planning authorities indicates that only around 8% of planning staff are under 30 years of age whilst over 39% are over 50 years old. The planning sector will require an additional 680-730 new entrants over the next 10-15 years and there is a real need to make sure that we have enough planners to produce development plans and process planning applications to support the post-COVID recovery.
I sincerely hope that the Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) is listening. Limited resources and a lack of ambition seems to be the order of the day in the local authority planning community.
Douglas G Hope 