This month, change is in the air – changing seasons; changing planning fees; changes to decisions that were made previously, but have since been revisited… Or, as Heraclitus put it, “there is nothing permanent except change”. So, for what’s been changing in the world of planning this month, read on…
On Holyrood
Planning fees regulations – as highlighted in last month’s Spotlights, planning fees are set to increase from 1 April, rising by between 25% and 50% in most cases. These will apply from the date of validation of an application so, if you have a planning application to submit in the next day or so, it would be advisable to get it in sooner rather than later!
On local government
Union Street, Aberdeen: to pedestrianise or not pedestrianise – this is a question that has divided public opinion for some time, and has become an increasingly hot topic since the Council’s City Growth and Resources Committee agreed in November last year to progress plans to permanently pedestrianise the central section of Aberdeen’s Union Street, the city’s main thoroughfare (on which, see our November Spotlights). At the same time, it was also agreed that temporary pedestrianisation measures which were put in place here as part of the Spaces for People programme would be retained while those plans were progressed. This decision was though revisited at the very end of last month, when the full Council voted in favour of the existing temporary measures instead being removed, and for this section of Union Street to be re-opened to buses, taxis and private hire vehicles later this year, with it not being clear what the long term implications of this for permanent pedestrianisation proposals might be. Meantime, debate around the issue continues, with a petition in support of full pedestrianisation having been launched, and a number of property industry experts having spoken out in favour of this on the basis that pedestrianisation is seen as key to securing good quality operators for vacant units on the street, and the regeneration of the city centre as a whole; with pedestrianisation being implemented as part of a wider masterplan for the city centre, and subject to all enabling works completed elsewhere on the road network, these are views that we wholeheartedly endorse!
Inner Moray Firth Proposed Local Development Plan – The Highland Council has launched a public consultation on the new Inner Moray Firth Proposed Local Development Plan, which covers what future development can happen, and where, across Nairnshire, Inverness district and the eastern part of Ross and Cromarty. Comments can be made anytime over a 12-week period between 25 March and 17 June 2022, and we would strongly encourage anyone with an interest in the Inner Moray Firth area to respond to this. If we can be of any assistance in doing so, then please do not hesitate to get in touch.
On planning applications
Dundee Eden Project – although not quite at the planning application stage yet, we were excited to hear that a £7.6 million funding package has now been agreed to pay for the next stages of work on the Dundee Eden Project attraction, including detailed design and development and completing the work required for a planning application, and we will be watching progress on this with interest.
On other matters
Scotland’s housing shortfall – a report commissioned by industry body Homes for Scotland (HfS) indicates that shortfalls in the supply of housing over the last 14 years have created a “housing gap” of almost 100,000 homes fewer than needed to meet demand, with the country missing out on significant economic and social benefits that these homes would deliver. This includes missed local infrastructure investment and job opportunities, and a lack of access to fit-for-purpose, energy-efficient homes, with poor housing being linked to a myriad of health impacts, to the cost of both individuals and the health service. As a result, HfS are calling for an all-tenure target at least 25,000 new homes being delivered per year to meet current levels of need and demand. Whilst this is commendable in principle, it is of course also important to ensure that these are the right homes, in the right places, and of the right quality, as well as just being the right number.
At the same time, this figure needs to be looked at in the context of there being some 43,000 privately-owned long-term empty homes in Scotland, inviting due consideration to be given to bringing these back into use in the interest of helping to address the shortfall, with a new guide on this also having been published this month by the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership, making for interesting reading.
On us
As the weather is getting warmer and thoughts turn towards spring, we’re also starting to think about spring intern opportunities… In each of the 5 years we have been in business, we have taken on either a final year student or recent graduate for a 4-week period, providing first-hand experience of working in an independent planning consultancy, and will be looking to do the same in May this year, with potential interns invited to apply with a CV and covering letter by 15 April.
We were also delighted this month to learn that, having obtained planning permission for the conversion of Schivas Steading to a wedding venue in 2019, this received a commendation at the Aberdeen Society of Architects annual awards last week, with the judges describing it as a project that “brings new life and commerce to rural Aberdeenshire in a sensitive adaptive re-use of a traditional farm steading into a new wedding venue.” We would certainly agree that this is well deserved.
On which, to find out how we can help with any aspect of the planning process, please visit our website or email us at info@auroraplanning.co.uk. Or, if you would like to see our other blogs or sign up for email updates, please click here.
Thanks for reading!
Pippa and Maggie
