| National Planning Framework | Encourage progress on national developments and actions relating to the area - and online updating of Action Programme including relevant contacts. | Ongoing | Angela Gray |
| NPF 2 Monitoring Report published March 28, 2012 | | Anne Grove |
| Work will commence on NPF 3 in autumn 2012 when the Participation Statement will be published. | Autumn 2012 | Fiona Simpson |
| Planning Reform | Planning Reform :The Next Steps The key priorities for the next stages of planning modernisation are:- - promoting the plan led system
- driving improved performance
- simplifying and streamlining processes
- delivering development
| 28 March 2012 - ongoing | Suzanne Stephen |
| Maintain momentum on providing good practice case studies for SG website Proforma available | Ongoing | Iain McLeod |
| The Scottish Awards for Quality in Planning Awards Ceremony will be at The Lighthouse on September 4, 2012 | Interview and site visits end June 2012 Awards ceremony at September 4, 2012 | Geraldine McAteer |
| Performance | Planning statistics published each quarter | Quarter 4 and full year figures for 2011/12 to be published June 2012 | Marie Ferguson |
| Streamlining Supporting Information and Appraisals | Pilots over summer | Stephen Jones |
| Opportunities to Simplify Multiple Consents | Pilots over summer | Andy Kinnaird |
| Planning Performance Framework (publication by Heads of Planning Scotland) launched March 28, 2012
Key agency group - looking at similar approach to performance framework | Looking to first reports from all Planning Authorities by autumn 2012 (covering business year 2011-12) | Marie Ferguson |
| Planning Fees | Consultation on Fees for Planning Applications 2012 published March 28, 2012 This consultation is part of the renewed planning reform programme announced on March 28, 2012. Further information can be found here | Consultation closes June 22, 2012 | Ian Black |
| Development Planning | 2011 National Development Planning Forum held in Edinburgh Presentations are available on the SG website. 2012 National Development Planning Forum to be held in Glasgow (June 20, 2012) | June 20, 2012 | Stephen Hall |
| Consultation on Development Plan Examinations | Consultation closes June 22, 2012 | Suzanne Stephen |
| Strategic Environmental Assessment | Review of the SEA Toolkit ongoing, with revised version expected in 2012. SEPA's SEA review was launched in July 2011. The findings are now being used to inform priorities for the Environmental Assessment Team in 2012 Next SEA Forum to be held in May 2012 | Autumn 2012 | Fiona Simpson |
| Habitats Regulations Appraisal | The first HRA forum will take place in Autumn 2012. More information available from EA team | Pilot HRA forum for Development plans November 21, 2012 in Glasgow | Cara Davidson |
| We publish targeted HRA advice sheets to support planners undertaking HRA of development plans. Specific topics will include guidance on the use of HRA policy caveats within development plans. Workshop held on January 31, 2012 between SG and SNH to shape development of the advice sheets | | Cara Davidson |
| Environmental Impact Assessment | EIA Forum event - Looking at Scoping | October 3, 2012 in Edinburgh | Cara Davidson |
| Review of PAN 58 commenced. More information at the EIA available on updated webpages | Revised PAN 2012/13 | Cara Davidson |
| Development Management | Consultation on Miscellaneous Amendments to the Planning System published on March 28, 2012. The consultation seeks views on draft legislation for a number of refinements and amendments to the procedures on development management, schemes of delegation, local reviews and appeals. This consultation is part of the renewed planning reform programme announced on March 28, 2012. Further information can be found here | Consultation closes June 22, 2012 | Alan Cameron |
| Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure)(Scotland)Amendment Regulations 2012. This will require planning authorities to consult with Historic Scotland on applications affecting designated Battlefields | To be laid May 2012 and coming into force summer 2012 | Alan Cameron |
| General Permitted Development Order consultation seeks views on draft legislation for a number of refinements and amendments to the non-domestic elements of the General Permitted Development Order. This consultation is part of the renewed planning reform programme announced on March 28, 2012. Further information can be found here | Consultation closes June 22, 2012 | David Reekie |
| The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Fish Farming) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2012. This Order extends permitted development rights to the placing or assembly of certain equipment within the area of an existing fish farm. This includes the installation of replacement or additional finfish pens, the replacement or relocation of existing feed barges, the replacement of existing top nets or their supports, the installation of temporary equipment and the placing or assembly of long lines. In addition, the Order extends permitted development rights to certain changes of use regarding the species of fish which are farmed | Laid before the Scottish Parliament April 30, and coming into force June 1, 2012 | Alan Cameron |
| Planning Obligations and Good Neighbour Agreements: Plans to revise Circular and incorporate Annex into a single document | Summer 2012 | David Reekie |
| Hazardous substances: Circular planned for Autumn 2012 | Autumn 2012 | Alan Cameron |
| Community Engagement | Revised guidance linked to practical experiences of community engagement | Mid-late 2012 | Graham Robinson |
| Event focussing on community engagement practice around "controversial" developments | November 29, 2011 | Graham Robinson |
| Compulsory Purchase | Circular 6/2011 - sets out Scottish Government policy on using compulsory purchase orders in Scotland | October 24, 2011 | Stephen Jones |
| Easy read guide to compulsory purchase and compensation for owners, tenants and occupiers on October 25, 2011. Explains how the process works, what compensation and other payments people may be entitled to and where they can go for further advice | October 25, 2011 | Stephen Jones |
| Planning circular 5/2011 - 'Disposal of Surplus Government Land - the Crichel Down Rules' sets out the circumstances and basis on which surplus land that was compulsorily acquired is offered back to the former owner | | Stephen Jones |
| Economy | Development Delivery and Viability Report was published in December 2010, and the recommendations in this report are being progressed | | Kathleen Marshall Chris Sinclair |
| Development economics and viability resources published for use by everyone involved in delivering development, to provide a working knowledge of development economics and viability, with accompanying policy context, and to assist with clarifying terminology commonly used by the development sector. Hard copies will be issued to Local Authorities and Agencies Working with stakeholders on additional learning resources.
| Further resources will be coming in later months
June 2012
August 2012 | Kathleen Marshall Chris Sinclair |
| Research into the potential of development charges published | Published June 2011 | Kathleen Marshall Chris Sinclair |
| Development Delivery consultation to garner views on the efficacy of current processes in delivering development; and to invite views on proposals that could assist the delivery of development and infrastructure. | Consultation closes June 22, 2012 | Chris Sinclair |
| Stalled Sites: We have been working with public and private sectors to determine an approach to investigating stalled sites, which are not progressing specifically due to infrastructure need. We intend to re-launch the initiative with renewed focus in 2012 subject to Ministerial approval | Options to Ministers May 2012 Launch June 2012 | Kathleen Marshall Chris Sinclair |
| Infrastructure funding: Working with Fife Council on exploring innovative models of infrastructure funding - research to report later in the summer and we will sure the findings from this, and innovative work that other local authorities are undertaking on infrastructure funding, is shared widely. The research findings will be published in 2012. SG will host an event in 2012 to share the learning from the Fife research and other innovative approaches which Local Authorities have been taking to fund infrastructure. | Publish Summer 2012 Event to be held September 2012 | Kathleen Marshall Chris Sinclair |
| Planning and Economic Development: A summit held on October 5, 2011, made a commitment to reconvene this year to review progress. Note of meeting has been circulated to attendees Next Summit to be held in 2012 |
October 2012 | Kathleen Marshall Chris Sinclair |
| Planning and Economic Growth: ongoing project looking for examples of planning's positive contribution | January 2012 | Graham Robinson |
| Retail and Regeneration | Vacant and Derelict Land Fund: Funding extended for one year in Glasgow, North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, Highland and Dundee. Possibility of extending eligibility to other authorities after 2013/14 | 2011-2012 | Helen Wood |
| Research report Town Centre Regeneration - How Does it Work and What Can it achieve (develops a clearer understanding of the activities taking place as part of town centre regeneration and the outputs and outcomes that follow on from this) | Published September 2011 | Helen Wood |
| Strategy Regeneration Achieving a Sustainable Future published in December sets out the Government's vision of a Scotland where our most disadvantaged communities are supported and where all places are sustainable and promote well-being. As part of this Strategy, a National Review of Town Centres is currently being taken forward. | December 12, 2011 | Andrew Ballantine |
| Housing | Housing Need and Demand Assessment (HoNDA) Stocktake: Following internal discussion and external soundings (including from PAs) it has been agreed to revise the HoNDA guidance and for the Centre for Housing Market Analysis to prepare a single simplified centralised model into which PAs can plug their local figures. | To be ready for use Autumn 2012 | Stephen Hall Anne Grove |
| Chief Planner issued letter on November 4, 2011 advising planning authorities of the SG's view that restrictions on the occupancy of new housing should generally be avoided | November 2011 | Stephen Hall |
| Design | Inspirational Design website launched to promote good quality housing design and placemaking throughout Scotland. It is a 'live' resource database and will be expanded, over time, as more projects receive awards. The exemplars have all been selected to inspire about what has been built in Scotland and what is possible to achieve in the future. | Ongoing | Susie Stirling Gemma Learmonth |
| Architecture and Placemaking policy Consultation document launch at Design Summit in The Lighthouse, Glasgow marks start of consultation period. Consultation period, during which an exhibition on policy themes will show at The Lighthouse and invite responses. Responses made available to the public in the Scottish Government Library. Responses made available on Scottish Government consultation web pages. Aim to issue a report on consultation process Aim to publish the statement on policy | May 29, 2012
May 30 - September 7, 2012
(by) September 27, 2012 (by) October 2, 2012 (by) mid November 2012
before Christmas | Les Scott |
| 2 day International Design Summit, will take place at The Lighthouse in Glasgow on the May 29 & 30, 2012 to mark the official launch of the consultation on a new architecture and place policy for Scotland. Speakers from Scotland, Denmark, Ireland, The Netherlands, Bavaria and other parts of the UK will address an audience of 130 delegates. | May 29 & 30, 2012 | Geraldine McAteer |
| SSCI Charrette Mainstreaming Programme: Charrettes held in: - Johnstone November 1-5 , 2011
- Callander November 19-23, 2011 and
- Girvan, February 2012
| November 2011 - March 2012 | Sandy Robinson |
| Rural Design: Futures landscapes: Practical guidance on rural design guides and kit house design issued at RTPI conference | November 8, 2011 | Susie Stirling |
| Green Infrastructure Design and Placemaking: The document gives practical tips on how to incorporate green infrastructure into masterplans | November 8, 2011 | Kristen Anderson |
| Built Heritage | Battlefields: New provisions introduced by the Historic Environment (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2011. | Ongoing into Development Plans | Grainne Lennon |
| The full provisions of the Historic Environment (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2011 have now commenced Further information on the 2011 Act can be found on the Historic Scotland Act webpages | December 1, 2011 | Grainne Lennon |
| Climate Change | Second Annual Report on the Operation of Section 72 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 (SG/2012/38) | Second report laid in Parliament March 26, 2012 | Simon Bonsall |
| Resource on climate change and development planning available online | |
| Renewables | Renewable sources to generate the equivalent of 100 per cent of Scotland's gross annual electricity consumption by 2020, to provide the equivalent of 11 per cent of Scotland's heat demand by 2020 and a new target of 500 MW community and locally-owned renewable energy by 2020 | Ongoing | Allen Hughes |
| The '2020 Routemap for Renewable Energy in Scotland' is an update and extension to the Scottish Renewables Action Plan, published in 2009, and is the main source which explains SG Energy policy and priority action areas. | Launched June 27, 2011 | Allen Hughes |
| Online planning advice sheets on renewable energy technologies launched on our renewable energy policy page regularly updated. To note latest online renewables planning advice on wind farms on peatland and microgeneration. | Ongoing | Allen Hughes |
| The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Non-Domestic Microgeneration) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2011. Accompanied by Circular 2/2010 | Came into force March 18, 2011 | Simon Bonsall |
| The Community And Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) is about to kick in, offering loans for the pre-planning costs of renewables projects in Scotland in 2011/12 with a budget of £5.35 million for community owned projects and £2.4 million for individual projects | Ongoing | Allen Hughes |
| The National Renewables Infrastructure Plan (N-RIP) was prepared by Scottish Enterprise (SE) and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) as an investment plan to support the growth of the offshore wind, wave and tidal sectors in Scotland, including securing the supply chain for these sectors. Eleven port and harbour sites were identified in phase one as ‘best fit’ locations for the offshore wind industry’s needs, with a view to creating clusters of economic activity around these key locations. Meetings with site owners, agencies and PAs ongoing. Need to encourage PAs to have ongoing dialogue with port authorities, to recognise land requirements, to recognise supply chain potential at port and near port locations in plans and SPGs, to consider early survey and consenting, and to support through Development Management processes | Ongoing | Allen Hughes |
| Highland Council, in conjunction with SG, have launched a heat mapping model. Heat maps also currently being prepared in Fife and Perth and Kinross. | Ongoing | Allen Hughes |
| Marine Planning | Draft Circular on relationship between marine and terrestrial planning to accompany consultation draft of the Scottish Marine Plan | 2012 | David Liddell |
| Flooding, water and drainage | Consolidated PAN planned for 2012. | 2012 | Simon Pallant |
| Waste | Revision to Annex B (Planning) of the Zero Waste plan | Capacity data published December 2011 | Graham Marchbank |
| Update to Planning Advice Note 63 undergoing peer review during May 2012 with publication planned shortly thereafter. | | Graham Marchbank |
| Minerals | Planning Reform – Next Steps (March 2012) announced work to consider whether the Review of Mineral Planning Permissions was a proportionate framework. Mining Waste Directive obligations required by 1 May 2012 are incomplete. They have been notified to HOPS and planning authorities with further reporting to the EU expected to be required. | | Graham Marchbank |
| An aggregates survey of 2011 production to support development planning and monitor landbanks is proposed and initial preparations with industry and HOPS have gone well. | | Emma Henderson |
| Crofting | Following the Highland pilot of consultation with the Crofters Commission on planning applications Planning Authorities are to write collectively to the SG with suggestions for including crofting questions in planning application forms to simplify process of identifying crofting land. Planning authorities are to agree the approach with Crofters Commission individually through their Serviced Level Agreements. which may affect crofting interests, in early October we brought planners from relevant authorities together with the Crofters Commission to discuss lessons learned from the pilot and identified a potential approach on consultation with the Commission | The requirement to consult the Crofters Commission came into force in October 2011 | Sophie Corbett |