South Ayrshire Sustainability Partnership 4 September 2013

1. South Ayrshire Sustainability Partnership 4 September 2013 “Introduction to Planning and the Environment - An Overview” Neil Feggans, Development Planning & Customers Team Leader, Planning Service

2. Ground Rules • Don’t wish to discuss: • specific planning applications or proposals • merits of development plan policies/sites/proposals

3. What planning does? • Regulates and controls the development and use of land, in the public interest • Shapes physical, economic, social and cultural environments

4. How does planning do that? -Legislative Context • Town & Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 • Specific definition of “development” • Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006 • Introduces objective of contributing to sustainable development in exercising planning functions • Related & subordinate legislation • Prescribes what planning authorities must do

5. How does planning do that? – Policy Context • Scottish Planning Policy (2010) – under review • Statement of Scottish Government policy on various planning topics e.g. Housing, retail, wind farms, minerals, access • Planning Advice Notes (PANs) • Suite of Govt. best practice advice on planning matters • National Planning Framework (NPF) 2 (NPF3 draft) • Identifies Govt. national priority developments

6. How does planning do that? –Main Strands • 3 main strands of Planning: • Development Plan (planning policy) • Development Management (planning applications & enforcement of planning control) • Environmental/Other Planning Matters

8. Development Plan • Policy framework for assessing planning applications • Allocates land for different purposes e.g. Housing, industry • Provides certainty to investors/developers and public as to where different forms of development can/can’t take place

9. = Investment Certainty =Promote development = Quality environment = Economic Development

10. Development Plan • evidence based • Process of stakeholder engagement • key agencies e.g. SNH, Historic Scotland, SEPA • Public consultation • Current Development Plan comprises • AJSP (2007) • SALP (2007) • Proposed LDP – approved for examination (2013)

11. Development Plan • Policies that seek to protect: • Historic environment – scheduled monuments, listed buildings, conservation areas, designed landscapes • Natural environment – designated sites (SSSI, LWS) protected species, biodiversity, landscape, trees • Outdoor access/active travel routes • Policies promoting good design • Policies supporting: • Renewable energy developments • Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere Reserve • CSGN • Ayrshire & Galloway Dark Skies Park • Supplementary guidance – more policy detail

12. Development Management • Processing applications for planning permission, listed building consent, advertisement consent etc. • Enforcement of control e.g. Conditions, unauthorised development • Must determine applications in accord with Development Plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise

13. Some Material Considerations • Scottish Planning Policy • Planning history of site • Residential amenity • Landscape/townscape impact • Impact on built & natural heritage e.g designated sites, protected species, scenic areas • Design – materials, height, scale, massing, layout and relationship to surroundings • Public access rights • Road access, parking, road safety • Economic benefit • Legitimate public concern/support on planning matter

14. Environmental/Other Planning Matters • Historic environment – policy/strategy, conservation area designation/appraisals/management plans, listing proposals • Natural Environment – wildlife (sites and species), landscape • Tree Preservation/Enforcement - TPOs, TWAs • Outdoor Access • Implementation - projects

15. Ayr THI

16. Loudoun Hall & Forecourt

17. Dunure Castle & Dovecot

18. Dailly Trails Bridge

19. Varyag Memorial

20. Giant Gnomon, Prestwick

21. Questions ?