Neil Collar discusses the recent changes to the Scottish planning system
Monday 3 August was a planning reform milestone in Scotland – the day when most of the changes to the Scottish development management system (planning applications, appeals and reviews, and enforcement) took effect.
Overall the changes to the Scottish planning system are intended to promote efficient decision making – therefore cutting down on delays. A more proportionate approach has been introduced. The new hierarchy, dividing developments into national, major and local, requires different procedures depending on the scale or complexity of each individual project.
While the overall planning framework remains very similar, there are significant changes which firms with clients in Scotland, and those looking to expand, deve...