Wendy Supports Radical Reform of Planning Law

Wendy Alexander has voted to support a radical reform of planning legislation which will give more power to local communities and help them shape their future. 

The Paisley North MSP said the Planning Scotland Bill now had the basis of a modern planning system far better equipped to serve the needs of its people. 

The Bill will: ·        Introduce a hierarchy into the planning system, where planning applications will be dealt with differently, depending on whether they are developments of national, major, local or minor significance ·        ensure that the next National Planning Framework can better deliver developments of national importance ·        introduce new measures for the quick and reliable processing of major developments ·        devolve decision making and appeals to a local level in certain cases ·        establish a statutory duty for development plans to be updated every five years ·        introduce a range of measures to promote opportunities for communities to participate in development planning and on individual planning applications, and to ensure that their views are taken into account ·        set out new measures to ensure that planning authorities can deal effectively with breaches of planning control. 

Ms Alexander said: ““This reform of the planning system is one of the most important pieces of legislation the Labour-led Scottish Executive has passed since its creation. “For the first time communities in Renfrewshire will now be able to participate in the planning process from the very beginning and play a more active role in shaping their futures.”