Scottish government launch delivery plan for strengthening the planning system
Contents |
[edit] Delivery in waiting
The Scottish government has launched a delivery plan for strengthening the planning system to tackle the housing emergency. The plan acknowledges that “in Scotland, planning permission has been granted for many more homes than are currently being built”, with around 29,000 planning approvals, compared to 20,000 starts. It is estimates that planning permission exists for 164,000 homes which have yet to be delivered, including 114,000 in Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Despite the system’s apparent efficacy, this delivery plan seeks to further improve the capacity and efficiency of the planning system, with the aim of unlocking investment, tackling delays and better understanding blockers elsewhere in the system. The plan focusses on four priority objectives to be progressed “at pace” over the next six months, building on Scotland’s National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4), and its presumption in favour of sustainable development.
[edit] Building on Scotland’s NPF4
[edit] Policy
- Policy: a strong and consistent planning and policy framework for investment. Actions under this theme focus on ensuring policies are applied consistently and exploring where further policy change is needed (for example with guidance on flooding or community engagement).
[edit] Delivery
- Delivery: actively enabling and facilitating development. Actions under this theme focus on areas where direct intervention could drive development, including establishing a Housing Planning Hub to provide brokerage support for major housing developments which have stalled in the system, and supporting planning authorities to develop pipelines of land for development
[edit] Efficiency
- Efficiency: an end-to-end approach to improving the efficiency of the system. Actions under this theme seek to streamline planning processes, for example through standardising planning conditions and section 75 agreements and exploring expansions in permitted development rights. It also includes halting the introduction of an infrastructure levy, based on feedback that this could add significant complexity to the system whilst offering limited benefits in return.
[edit] Capacity
- Capacity: investing in capacity with access to excellent professional skills and expertise. Actions under this theme include more support for planning careers and expanded departmental funding through higher planning fees.
While these actions have potential to strengthen Scotland's planning system, it is disappointing that no consideration appears to have been given as to how the planning system can better encourage built out after permission is granted (for example through “use it or loose it” permissions, or fees to maintain permissions prior to work starting).
Additionally, the focus on the planning system appears to ignore where the majority of the issues in Scottland’s housing delivery pipeline are – namely, between planning permission and completion. It is to be hoped that this is only the first phase of the Scottish Government’s work to address the housing crisis, with additional work plans to follow.
This article appears on the CIAT news and blog site as "Scottish government delivery plan to strengthen planning system" dated 20 November, 2024.
--CIAT
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Achieving net zero in social housing.
- Assignation.
- Building safety in Wales.
- Devolution.
- Drying room - Scotland.
- National Planning Framework.
- National planning policy framework.
- Placemaking.
- Planning permission.
- Planning (Wales) Bill.
- Scotland publishes plans to reach net zero targets with Heat in Buildings Strategy.
- Scotland reaches homebuilding milestone in 2021.
- Scottish building standards.
- Scottish Government urged to review infrastructure.
- Scottish housing standard.
- Scottish planning and architecture documents.
- Scottish planning policy.
- The future infrastructure of Scotland.
- Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002.
Featured articles and news
Combating burnout.
The 5 elements of seiri, seiton, seiso, seiketsu and shitsuke.
Shading for housing, a design guide
A look back at embedding a new culture of shading.
The Architectural Technology Awards
The AT Awards 2025 are open for entries!
ECA Blueprint for Electrification
The 'mosaic of interconnected challenges' and how to deliver the UK’s Transition to Clean Power.
Grenfell Tower Principal Contractor Award notice
Tower repair and maintenance contractor announced as demolition contractor.
Passivhaus social homes benefit from heat pump service
Sixteen new homes designed and built to achieve Passivhaus constructed in Dumfries & Galloway.
CABE Publishes Results of 2025 Building Control Survey
Concern over lack of understanding of how roles have changed since the introduction of the BSA 2022.
British Architectural Sculpture 1851-1951
A rich heritage of decorative and figurative sculpture. Book review.
A programme to tackle the lack of diversity.
Independent Building Control review panel
Five members of the newly established, Grenfell Tower Inquiry recommended, panel appointed.
Welsh Recharging Electrical Skills Charter progresses
ECA progressing on the ‘asks’ of the Recharging Electrical Skills Charter at the Senedd in Wales.
A brief history from 1890s to 2020s.
CIOB and CORBON combine forces
To elevate professional standards in Nigeria’s construction industry.
Amendment to the GB Energy Bill welcomed by ECA
Move prevents nationally-owned energy company from investing in solar panels produced by modern slavery.
Gregor Harvie argues that AI is state-sanctioned theft of IP.
Experimental AI housing target help for councils
Experimental AI could help councils meet housing targets by digitising records.