The Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006
The Act
The Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006 received Royal Assent on 20th December, 2006. The Act heralds the most significant change to the planning regime in Scotland for decades. However, none of its provisions have come into force yet and The Scottish Government is still working on the timetable for this to happen. The latest ‘best guesses’ being made are that the new planning system will not be fully operational until 2008 or even 2009.
The New Planning System
The Act itself is only a starting point – in many cases just a tantalising glimpse of what the much-heralded new system will look like, once fully formed. To achieve all of the aims of The Scottish Government's radical reform agenda, a comprehensive programme of new orders and regulations will be needed, accompanied by the modernisation and updating of circulars, statutory guidance, Scottish Planning Policies and Planning Advice Notes. This huge task is still getting underway.
At this early stage of the ongoing reform process, Semple Fraser has produced a guide to the Act which aims to highlight some of the most significant proposals and indicate where further detail is still to emerge in the form of secondary legislation, such as orders and regulations.
Our Planning Group is closely monitoring The Scottish Government's output in relation to the Act. For regular updates on progress, consultations and other current Scottish & UK planning and development-related issues, please continue to visit this website.
For further details of The Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006 please click here.
For The Scottish Government's Indicative Implementation Timetable please click here.
For details of the First Commencement Order please click here.
For details of the Second Commencement Order please click here.
For The Scottish Government National Planning Framework Webpage please click here.
For The Scottish Government Consultation Paper on Planning and Sustainable Development - Consultation period expiring 22 June 2007 please click here.
For the Preparation of the Second National Planning Framework (NPF2): Participation Statement (Updated October 07) please click here.
For the National Planning Framework: Newsletter No. 3 Autumn 2007 please click here.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: JUNE GILLES