Chamber and committees

Development plan examination reports are not signed off by ministers, but ministers do have the opportunity to intervene later in the process.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-02188 on 12 September 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/MAQASearch/QAndMSearch.aspx.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-02188 on 12 September 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-02187 on 12 September 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

The green belt boundaries identified in local development plans should reflect the long term settlement strategy. However, there may be circumstances where it is appropriate to redesignate previously green belt land for other uses through the development plan process.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-02202 on 12 September 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/MAQASearch/QAndMSearch.aspx.

The definition of effective housing land does not change, but the effectiveness of individual sites may change in the light of economic circumstances. The chief planner wrote to planning authorities on 29 October 2010 (http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/212607/0106433.pdf) advising on the continued provision of an effective supply of land for housing in the changed economic climate.

Section 20(7) gives ministers the powers to direct that the plan will only be constituted if and when approved by ministers.

No minister was directly involved. The appointment of reporters to examine development plans is delegated to the chief reporter.

These are set out in the Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006 (Development Planning) (Saving, Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Order 2008. The effect is that those local plans which had progressed through the consultation stage but not to public local inquiry stage when the new development planning arrangements were commenced at February 2009 could still progress, but would be examined under the new arrangements.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-02199 on 12 September 2011. Scottish Planning Policy states that the purpose of green belt designation in the development plan as part of the settlement strategy for an area is to:

direct planned growth to the most appropriate locations and support regeneration,

protect and enhance the quality, character, landscape setting and identity of towns and cities, and

protect and give access to open space within and around towns and cities.

SPP also states that green belt designation should be used to direct development to suitable locations, not to prevent development from happening and that land should only be designated by a planning authority as green belt where it will contribute to the settlement strategy for an area.

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

It is for planning authorities to set out their policies to manage development in green belt areas in their development plans. Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) states that green belt designation should provide clarity and certainty on where development will and will not take place, and provides examples of types of development that may be appropriate in green belts, such as development associated with agriculture. It also notes that other proposals may be acceptable where they are a national priority or to meet an established need if no other site is available. Green belts are not necessarily permanent, and SPP notes that where it is considered necessary, the proposed release of land previously designated as green belt should be identified as part of the settlement strategy set out in the development plan.