Strategic issues - Scotland

The Scottish Government is determined to ensure that the planning system is not presented as an obstacle to sustainable economic growth. The Scottish Government would welcome views on how economic considerations might be given more explicit recognition in the development of planning policy and decision making. Anything which brings people round the table and fosters dialogue is welcome. However, such mechanisms are not new, and nor are their drawbacks. Currently, where a local authority has an interest in a development which would otherwise come within a scheme of delegation, and therefore subject not to appeal but to the Local Review Body, that development cannot be delegated. The first question asked is simply whether respondents think the current system supports or hinders development, followed by how effective section 75 obligations are at achieving developer contributions, and then what additional measures or support the government can provide within the current legislative regime.