Tuesday, March 24, 2020 | Planning & Building |
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The current restrictions and challenges caused by the coronavirus outbreak have an impact on Scottish Government and planning authority activities, and also on users of the planning system. The latest updates are below, and we will continue to keep you informed of any further changes through these e-alerts and on Twitter, @ScotGovPlanning If you have any queries relating to this, please contact us via the mailbox: covid19planningenquiries@gov.scot | |
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Coronavirus outbreak - issues for operation of planning system There are a number of areas of our planning system, particularly (but not exclusively) within development management processes, where current restrictions on gatherings of people do not sit well with statutory procedural requirements. We are actively exploring options around these issues just now to make sure planning can continue to function and support the economic investment Scotland needs. As a matter of urgency we are discussing the options with solicitors, business and planning authority representatives. As an example, we are considering emergency changes to regulations relating to public events required as part of pre-application consultation for major developments. We will provide greater clarification over the next few days. | |
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Coronavirus outbreak - relaxation of enforcement activity The Chief Planner has twice written to planning authorities in recent days, recognising the exceptional challenges, pressures and impacts on society and the economy caused by the coronavirus outbreak. The first letter advised that authorities should not seek to take enforcement action which would unnecessarily restrict the timing of store opening hours and delivery of food and other essential items; and the second in similar terms relating to public houses and restaurants, so enabling them to operate takeaway services. The need for those measures will be reviewed after three months, with the intention to withdraw it once the urgency has subsided. You can find those letters here. | |
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NPF4 - Call for Ideas deadline extended to 30 April In light of current events, including the need to cancel the final seven NPF4 roadshow events, we have now extended the Call for Ideas deadline from 31 March to 30 April. This applies to all aspects, including the recent housing technical paper and suggestions for national developments. We say a bit more in this blog about how you can still be involved in this early engagement and the resources available to help. You can also find all you need to know at www.transformingplanning.scot. People have been asking if the current situation with COVID-19 will impact the NPF4 timetable. We are still aiming to consult on a draft in September 2020; but will of course let you know if there is any change to that. | |
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Regulations on Changing Places Toilets, and more Planning Act commencements Regulations have been laid in the Scottish Parliament to bring into effect the new Planning requirements on Changing Places Toilets. Section 26 of the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019 introduces a requirement that planning applications for certain types of development will only be able to be approved if the development includes a toilet facility that meets the description in the Act. This is inserted as section 41B of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997. The Town and Country Planning (Changing Places Toilet Facilities) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 amend the types of development and the description of the facility to align with the Building Standards requirements that came into force in October 2019. These regulations need to be approved by the Scottish Parliament before they come into effect. The Planning (Scotland) Act 2019 (Commencement No. 4 and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2020 will bring the requirements, as amended by the Regulations, into force for applications submitted on or after 18 May 2020.We have published a circular setting out the amended requirements all in one place and giving more information about Changing Places Toilets and the interaction with Building Standards. The Commencement Regulations also bring into force on 18 May the powers under section 17 of the 2019 Act for Scottish Ministers to make regulations about short term let control areas. The commencement of section 62 and paragraph 9 of schedule 2 deal with the Parliamentary procedure for approving these regulations. We will be consulting soon on what those regulations should include, with a view to the system for designating short term let control areas coming into force by the end of this year. Keep up-to-date and involved in planning reform and the implementation of the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019 at www.transformingplanning.scot/ Any questions can be directed to planning.reform@gov.scot | |
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Scottish Awards for Quality in Planning (SAQP) To all potential applicants - we will postpone the launch of the SAQP until Autumn 2020. At that time, we will inform you on the revised schedule of dates leading to a ceremony during 2021 and look forward to receiving your entries. Last year's Winners: Meantime, here's a link to last year's SAQP event which includes a fly through and map of all the winning entries. For any information please contact Susie Stirling susan.stirling@gov.scot | |
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