In our March Spotlights, we were snowed in and reflecting on how different countries managed their snow clearing processes; now we’re in the midst of a heatwave. That brings new challenges in terms of climate change adaptation and the need to tailor our infrastructure to ensure water supplies are maintained, update our housing stock to not just retain heat but also incorporate cooling mechanisms, and manage our land very differently. And apparently this year is just the start of many a long hot summer to come…
But for what’s hot in planning this month read on below…
On Holyrood
Derelict and urban vacant land: Following the coming into force of new rights for community bodies to acquire land which is abandoned, neglected or causing harm to their environmental wellbeing (as reported on in last month’s Spotlights), it is interesting that the latest Scottish Vacant and Derelict Land Survey 2017 indicates derelict and urban vacant land in Scotland has decreased by 844ha (7%) in the last year. That does, however, still leave 11,647ha across Scotland, with nearly 30% of the population living within 500m of such a site. So, there is still plenty of scope for communities to make a difference, particularly those in East Ayrshire, Highland, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire and Glasgow City which, collectively, contain just under two thirds of such land.
Planning (Scotland) Bill: Despite Parliament being in recess, activity relating to the new Planning Bill is continuing with the RTPI Scotland and a number of other organisations uniting to lobby Kevin Stewart (the Minister responsible for planning) and other MSPs not to introduce a third party or equal right of appeal. They argue that such as right would be detrimental to the planning system in a number of ways including by reducing local democracy (as more decisions would be made by central government), slowing down the process (with increased pressure placed on already scarce resources), and widening inequalities (with some communities being more able and well resourced to raise appeals than others). Instead, they emphasise the need for more positive and proactive early engagement. It should be noted that the Minister has consistently resisted the introduction of such a right of appeal, but that the Local Government and Communities Committee have recommended that it be introduced. We suspect this will continue to be a hotly debated aspect of the Planning Bill.
Scottish Awards for Quality in Planning (SAQP): The Scottish Government has now announced the entries for this year’s SAQP, its showcase for best practice, with 50 entries across 5 categories. What is interesting is that this year there are less entries in the “plans” category than the other 4 and, even then, they are generally focussed on engagement, rather than the plans themselves. So perhaps planning is now moving more towards a focus on delivery as aspired to in the provision of the Planning Bill…? More information on all the entries is available here.
On the courts
Aberdeen Football Stadium: With work already underway on the project, and just 2 days before the deadline to do so, on 20 July No Kingsford Stadium Limited lodged a petition for judicial review of the Council’s decision to approve the planning application for this project. Watch this space for future developments.
On planning applications
Trump: It’s difficult to avoid reading about Trump in the news these days, and our Spotlights are no exception since the Trump Organisation has this month submitted a planning application to Aberdeenshire Council for the second phase of its development at the Menie estate. The first phase, approved in 2008, comprised two championship golf courses, a 450 room five-star hotel, a golf academy, almost 1,000 holiday homes and 500 private houses. Of that, only the Trump International golf course, associated club house and the conversion of the estate house to a small hotel have been implemented. The current application includes 500 residential units, 50 hotel cottages, a sports centre, retail, equestrian and commercial spaces, alongside other resort related leisure facilities and represents £150m investment. With questions being raised about the economic benefits and environmental impacts of the existing course, it’s unlikely that this will be an easy application for the Council to determine.
Hill of Rubislaw: Regular readers will know that, earlier this year, Aberdeen City Council’s planning officers had recommended approval for 299 private rented sector flats at the Hill of Rubislaw for which we had been acting on behalf of our Canadian client Carterra. But as we reported last month, the Planning Development Management Committee disappointingly went against the officers’ recommendations and the application was refused. However, the applicants remain committed to delivering this development which will bring social, economic and environmental benefits for Aberdeen and so, on their behalf, we have now submitted an appeal against the refusal of the application. We look forward to the outcome of that.
Fitness Space gym: We are delighted to have submitted a planning application to Aberdeenshire Council for Scotland’s first Fitness Space gym, a high-end gym franchise. The application for the conversion of the ground floor of the former Clydesdale Bank building in Stonehaven’s Market Square will not only bring a prominent listed building back into use, but will also create new jobs, bring activity into the town centre throughout the day and into the evening and, of course, make for a fitter, healthier population.
On planning and economic development
European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre: Related to both climate change adaptation and Trump International, anyone living locally will not have failed to notice the 11 wind turbines now sited off the Aberdeen coast (against which Trump fought a lengthy legal battle). This is Scotland’s largest off shore wind farm developed by Vattenfall and supported by the Aberdeen Renewal Energy Group, trialling next generation technology. This month saw the first power generated from the wind farm, which also brings with it a £150,000 per annum community benefit fund.
Barclays Buchanan Warf campus: Barclays has announced plans for a significant investment in a new campus at Buchanan Wharf in Glasgow. Whilst the development is a huge boost for both Glasgow and Scotland’s economy (promising up to 2,500 new roles), it is also very exciting in planning terms. Barclays are working with Drum Property Group to finalise the design of the new campus as part of the wider mixed Buchanan Wharf development comprising Grade A office space, residential accommodation and a mix of local amenities and landscaped public spaces in a water-side city centre location. It is anticipated that construction will begin by the end of the year, pending securing appropriate planning consents.
Sutherland space launch centre: And just to prove that planning can sometimes be out of this world, we were very excited to hear about the potential for Sutherland to become the UK’s first spaceport, which will bring considerable and much need economic benefit it to the area, subject of course to securing planning permission (amongst other things).
On us
We’re delighted that our intern Lisa Cossan, who left us last month, is now gaining invaluable experience at Aberdeen City Council. For what she learnt from her time at Aurora Planning, look out for her future blog coming soon….
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Thanks for reading!
