Dear Colleague
PILOT MODEL POLICY STUDY: CONCLUSIONS & NEXT STEPS
The White Paper Modernising the Planning System (June 2005) indicated that the Executive was piloting model policies on the built environment and natural heritage for inclusion in development plans. The pilot has now been concluded. We are grateful to all those who have contributed so positively to the Pilot.
The enclosed Conclusions and Next Steps Report provides an analysis of the responses to the Pilot Model Policy Report prepared by the Model Policy Task Group and circulated to stakeholders between May and July 2005. It sets out the finalised model policies on the built environment and natural heritage, which are suitable for most local authorities to use in the preparation of new development plans. This will help to achieve greater consistency and reduce unnecessary effort by local authorities in preparing development plan policies. We encourage local authorities to integrate the model policies into development plans at the next available opportunity.
The Conclusions and Next Steps Report also sets out a forward strategy for rolling out model policies more widely, which has been based on discussions with and feedback from key stakeholders. Future model policies will be formulated as a Scottish Planning Policy ( SPP) is prepared or revised, with the support of a policy-specific task group and stakeholder consultation. Inclusion of model policies in a SPP will provide greater clarity for local authorities and enable them to integrate the model policies into their new development plans.
This is the preferred approach given the Executive's comprehensive programme of SPP preparation and review. The approach is supported by the University of Dundee's research on model policies for the Executive (May 2003) which stated that the development of model policies should be integrated in to the wider policy making cycle.
Yours faithfully
JANE MACRORY