Scottish planning reforms could take until 2018, SPF warns

Scottish communities minister, Stewart Maxwell MSP, promised major planning reforms at the Scottish Property Federation’s inaugural annual conference recently, but SPF vice chairman, Kenneth Ross OBE, warned that it could be 2018 before these were effective.

The event at Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh attracted over 300 industry professionals, with speakers including Land Securities chief executive, Francis Salway.

Stewart Maxwell MSP said: “Planning and development are crucial for Scotland’s economic success and this government is determined to translate the importance of that idea into sustained, coherent and ambitious reforms. We faced a tough time getting the Budget through, but we can now get on with the job of modernisation.”

He added that planning and sustainable development would be at the “very heart” of Scotland’s economic strategy and that the government would be considering how to encourage local authorities to embrace more projects.
The minister also outlined plans for an “overhaul” of the planning system, adding: “Planning is often seen as a slow, cumbersome obstacle, something that is no longer fit for purpose. The package of reforms coming through now will improve the way planning works.”

Speaking about planning-gain supplement, the minister said: “The Scottish Government and property industry were in agreement that HM Treasury’s proposals for PGS were flawed. Now that this is off the agenda, we are free to pursue a solution that best meets the needs of sustainable economic growth. We are initiating a review and are open to all suggestions.”

A recently issued public letter by cabinet secretary for finance and sustainable growth, John Swinney, has brought the issue of planning gain back to the fore, with the Scottish property industry now potentially facing higher demands.
Kenneth Ross, vice chairman of the SPF, said its agenda had been to be “constructive and to engage with government”. But he warned ministers that the SPF would be robust in its criticism where necessary.

He said: “While we do have obligations as developers, we must make sure our contributions are used fairly and that our investments are put to good use. We should not be held to ransom over planning applications.

“The secondary legislation associated with the Planning Act (2006) is doing little to speed up the process and unless action is taken it may take until 2018 before we have full up to date coverage of local plans throughout the country. There are no timetables in place to ensure delivery. The system is not delivering.”

Mr Ross added that while consultation was welcome, action was required now, and said: “There is no point gold plating, making Scotland’s building standards the highest in Europe and the industry responding by building zero carbon buildings here in the capital, if the average travel to work time is an hour and a quarter. All the benefits of carbon savings are destroyed. We need an integrated transport and planning system together with low-carbon building standards if we are going to tackle climate change effectively.”

Dan MacDonald, SPF chairman, said that the first SPF conference was a “very significant” day for an industry which had previous been fragmented.

He said: “Scottish industry must change and recognise it must lead the call for a step change in economic growth and strategy. London has done this; Dublin has certainly done this – now it is time for businesses in Scotland to address with Government, public authorities and educational institutions the need to push harder to put Scottish industry first.”

David Sivewright, project director, Grosvenor, said: “Grosvenor is delighted to have supported the inaugural SPF Annual Conference. The high attendance clearly demonstrates the important role the SPF has gained in its first year, and we look forward to working with it over the coming year to continue to raise the profile of the commercial property industry in Scotland.”