Planning

16/4/08 The following is a brief update on current changes in Planning legislation :

Public Local Inquiry on the Local Plan draws to a close

The public local inquiry into the Argyll and Bute Council (ABC) finalised draft Local Plan has now finished. We are awaiting the conclusions of the Reporter – the Scottish Government's adjudicator on the draft Plan and objections to it. His decisions are expected to be made public in the summer of 2008.

When the Reporter's views are known, A&B Council will decide what changes to make to the draft Local Plan. Once approved, the Plan will become the main reference document for the next four years for most land-use planning matters in Argyll and Bute.

When that happens, HGBG will look at the conclusions and will adjust its policies in line with them and be ready to respond, if necessary, to any new planning applications.

Green Belt Review

One matter which is likely to follow soon after the Local Plan has been approved is a review of the Green Belt. The Council has provided very little information about this to us, but we know that consultants will be commissioned to examine our Green Belt. That ought to consider all aspects of the town as they affect the Green Belt such as recreation, tourism, farming, business, housing, transport and a range of other aspects as well as the character of the town and its setting and its future character. We have not seen the remit for the consultants, but it will be crucial that they get a full brief and not a limited one

New Planning Laws being prepared

Besides all this local action, there are major changes happening at national level. The secondary legislation for the new Scottish Planning Act is going through the Scottish Parliament. This has been described as the biggest shake-up of planning since the 1940s. One problem is that Argyll and Bute will be planned for as a rural authority on its own, while Helensburgh is largely a quasi-suburb of the Greater Glasgow Region. The Glasgow Region – comprised of eight local authorities – will have to cooperate at the strategic level, but Helensburgh runs the risk of being left out of that process. So we are waiting to see the new national procedures as well as the Council level proceedures.

"These are busy times"