|
Latest: Welcome to the BEFS e-Bulletin.
Please note the forthcoming consultation on the Scottish
Planning Policy document, which is expected within the next couple of
weeks.
For further information on BEFS visit: www.befs.org.uk.
|
Short-cut to
sections:- Consultations | Publications |
Scottish Government news releases | News
releases | Recent parliamentary questions | Recent parliamentary answers | Other
parliamentary activity | Events | Training
| Job vacancies
Consultations
Consultations
Forthcoming
Scottish
Planning Policy
Sets out the Scottish Government's planning policy on different types of development
such as housing and wind farms and on environmental issues such as natural
and built heritage and flooding. This new, shorter Scottish Planning Policy
(SPP) will replace seventeen existing policy
documents, making policy easier to understand and interpret. (SG 12/03/09)
Scottish
Planning Policy Environmental Report
A strategic environmental assessment of the consolidated Scottish Planning
Policy (SPP) has been carried out. (SG 17/03/09)
Back to Top
Publications
A Guide
to the Use of Mediation in the Planning System in Scotland (SG 16/03/09)
The purpose of the guide is to help those involved in the planning system
in Scotland to understand how mediation can be used to enhance the planning
process.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/03/10154116/0
Consultation
on the key findings and recommendations from the National Parks Review -
Consultation Responses (SG 11/03/09)
National Parks Review Consultation contents.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/03/11152716/0
Back to Top
Scottish Government news releases
Forestry
and climate change (SG 13/03/09)
A package of measures to ensure Scotland's national
forests make a bigger impact on tackling climate change has been announced.
They include developing joint ventures on renewable energy projects, making
the Scotland Rural Development Programme more effective in stimulating
woodland creation, urging the Treasury to consider tax incentives and
continuing to dispose of surplus land to raise income to establish new
woodlands.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2009/03/13100641
Ministers
mark world heritage success (HS 10/03/09)
Culture Minister Michael Russell MSP and Barbara Follett MP, Minister for
Culture, Creative Industries and Tourism, have visited the UK's most
recently inscribed World Heritage Site, The Antonine Wall. The most
northern frontier of the Roman Empire was named of
global significance by UNESCO's World Heritage Committee in July last year.
This will be the first time that the two Culture Ministers have met.
http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index/news/news_article.htm?articleid=21987
http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index/news/news_article.htm?articleid=22023
Back to Top
News releases
Forestry
Commission launches partnership for greener towns and cities (FC 19/03/09)
Making Britain's towns and
cities greener places to live and work is the aim of a new partnership
being launched by the Forestry Commission. (25/03/09)
http://www.forestry.gov.uk/newsrele.nsf/WebPRByCountryLang/C9A6CF311A15D20C8025757E0036B24E
New zero
carbon hub set up to make Welsh buildings greener (NAW 10/03/09)
The Welsh
Assembly Government has announced a new industry backed group to cut carbon
emissions from buildings across the country. The 'Zero Carbon Hub Wales' is
a coalition of key members of the building industry, housing and voluntary
sectors who are committed to helping Wales achieve its carbon reduction
targets.
http://new.wales.gov.uk/news/latest/090309hub/;jsessionid=6Qv0J2pGlVzvnNVx15kc1sglQGqHTJQv0x43vjFmlTK8VJ3rbkJQ!1614610361?lang=en
Back to Top
Recent parliamentary questions
Answers
will appear in a subsequent Bulletin, with questions reproduced. Questions
marked with a triangle are initiated by the Scottish Executive in order to
facilitate the provision of information to the Parliament.
Questions
in which a member has indicated a declarable interest are marked with an
"R".
S3W-22105
Peter Peacock: To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has issued to
local authorities on issues associated with planning fees. (SP 19/03/09)
S3W-22109
Peter Peacock: To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to ensure that it
complies with section 17 of the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act
2005 with respect to the National Performance Framework. (SP 19/03/09)
S3W-22110
Peter Peacock: To ask the Scottish Executive what action it plans to take
to assist local authorities and community planning partnerships to
undertake the environmental assessment of single outcome agreements in
accordance with the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005. (SP
19/03/09)
S3W-21887
Sarah Boyack: To ask the Scottish Executive what its reasons are for not
using the Marine Bill to establish Marine Scotland. (SP 16/03/09)
S3W-21888
Sarah Boyack: To ask the Scottish Executive what its reasons are for
establishing Marine Scotland before the passage of the Marine Bill. (SP
16/03/09)
S3W-21775
Sarah Boyack: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is still committed
to removing the need for planning permission for micro wind turbines. (SP
13/03/09)
S3W-21779
Sarah Boyack: To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it intends to put
in place to ensure that local authorities fully implement Scottish Planning
Policy SPP 6: Renewable Energy. (SP 13/03/09)
S3W-21780
Sarah Boyack: To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to
address the level of skill in carbon assessment linked to the
implementation of planning regulations. (SP 13/03/09)
S3W-21781
Sarah Boyack: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is committed to
introducing permitted development rights for the installation of renewable
technology. (SP 13/03/09)
S3W-21784
Sarah Boyack: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to develop a
strategy to improve the energy efficiency of existing building stock for
non-domestic buildings. (SP 13/03/09)
Back to Top
Recent parliamentary answers
Q S3W-20925
- Mary Mulligan: To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it has made
towards its target of building 21,500 affordable homes by 2011. (SP
12/02/09)
A Answered by Alex Neil (11/03/09): The government has a target of
approving 21,500 affordable homes over the three year period 2008-11. We
plan to approve over 6,000 homes by the end of financial year 2008-09. Our
recently announced programme for 2009-10 has a target of at least 6,500
unit approvals.
Q S3W-20993
Willie Coffey: To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration has been
given to the introduction of compensation payments for adjacent owners
where planning applications, for wind turbines or other developments, are
judged to have had an adverse impact on the value of their properties. (SP
16/02/09)
A Answered by Stewart Stevenson (11/03/09): There are no plans at
present to consider the introduction of compensation under the planning
system for owners of land adjacent to wind turbines, or indeed any other
developments, in regard to potential adverse impact on the value of their
property. The planning system does not exist to protect the interests of
one person or business against the activities of another. In determining a
planning application, consideration will be given to a range of issues
including the extent to which a proposal may affect the amenity and
existing use of land and buildings which ought to be protected in the
public interest, not whether owners or occupiers of neighbouring properties
would experience financial or other loss from a particular development.
Q S3W-21002
- Mary Mulligan: To ask the Scottish Executive by what means local
authorities and others can access the Town Centre Regeneration Fund. (SP
13/02/09)
A Answered by Alex Neil (10/03/09): I refer the member to the answer
to question S3W-20618 on 26 February 2009. 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/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.
Q S3W-21309
Murdo Fraser: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is content with the
scope of the Beauly Denny Public Inquiry now that it has received the final
report. (SP 25/02/09)
A Answered by Jim Mather (10/03/09): The Report of the Beauly Denny
Public Inquiry was submitted to the Scottish Government on 18 February
2009. Ministers are now considering the report and aim to take a decision
by the end of December 2009. Until that decision is made it would be
inappropriate to comment any further.
S3W-21003
Mary Mulligan: To ask the Scottish Executive which section of the Scottish
Government will oversee the allocation of the Town Centre Regeneration
Fund. (SP 23/02/09)
A Answered by Alex Neil (10/03/09): Regeneration Division within the
Housing and Regeneration Directorate is at present considering the detail
of the Town Centre Regeneration Fund, including provision for
administration and allocation.
Q S3W-20944
Hugh Henry: To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to ensure
that the £60 million announced for the Town Centre Regeneration Fund is
spent on town centre regeneration. 13/2/09
A Answered by Alex Neil (10/03/09): I refer the member to the answer
to question S3W-20618 on 26 February 2009. 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/Business/PQA/Default.aspx
Q S3W-21276
Murdo Fraser: To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to review
building standards for domestic dwelling houses. (SP 25/02/09)
A Answered by Stewart Stevenson (09/03/09): Revisions to building
regulations are being considered for introduction in October 2010, with a
range of topics presently under review. In 2008, the Scottish Government
consulted on proposed revisions in the following areas: a range of
procedural, environmental and safety topics related to improving
sustainability; means of escape in the event of fire, and the control of
noise between and within dwellings. Further consultation in the following
areas is proposed during 2009: further improvements to energy standards,
with a 30% improvement on current standards proposed; a range of structural
issues, including on disproportionate collapse, the introduction of
structural Eurocodes and revised guidance on small buildings, and improving
compliance with building regulations. All of these review topics will have
implications for new domestic buildings.
Q S3W-20776
Patricia Ferguson: To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to
question S3W-19953 by Linda Fabiani on 2 February 2009, what steps it is
taking to ensure that the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical
Monuments will retain charitable status following any rationalisation. (SP
11/02/09)
A Answered by Michael Russell (09/03/09): Any decision taken on the
future status of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical
Monuments of Scotland will take account of the position in relation to
Charitable Status and would, if necessary, be discussed with the Office of
the Scottish Charity Regulator.
Q S3W-20779
Patricia Ferguson: To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to
question S3W-19951 by Linda Fabiani on 2 February 2009, whether it has
considered conducting a formal consultation on the future of the Royal
Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments. (SP 11/02/09)
A Answered by Michael Russell (05/03/09): No formal consultation on
the future of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments
of Scotland has been carried out.
Q S3W-20780
Patricia Ferguson: To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to
question S3W-19952 by Linda Fabiani on 2 February 2009, for what reasons
the budget for the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments has
been reduced in 2010-11. (SP 11/02/09)
A Answered by Michael Russell (05/03/09): The budget figures in the
answer to question S3W-19952 include the commission's share of the agreed
portfolio efficiency savings for the current spending review period. These
apply to all public bodies in the portfolio.
Q S3W-21013
Peter Peacock: To ask the Scottish Executive how many planning applications
were refused by the Cairngorms National Park Authority on grounds of nature
conservation value (the Sandford principle). (SP 13/02/09)
A Answered by Roseanna Cunningham (26/02/09): I refer the member to
the answer to question S3W-21012 on 26 February 2009. 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/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.
Q S3W-21012
- Peter Peacock: To ask the Scottish Executive how many planning
applications have been considered by the Cairngorms National Park
Authority. (SP 13/02/09)
A Answered by Roseanna Cunningham (26/02/09): The Cairngorms National
Park Authority took on its planning function in September 2003 and since
then many hundreds of planning applications have been considered for
possible call-in by the park authority. All planning applications
determined by the park authority can be viewed on their website.
Back to Top
Other parliamentary activity
Bills
UK Marine
and Coastal Access Bill (Motion agreed)
That the
Parliament agrees that the relevant provisions of the UK Marine and Coastal
Access Bill introduced in the House of Lords on 4 December 2008, relating
to the marine policy statement, marine planning, marine licensing, marine
conservation zones and enforcement powers, so far as these matters fall
within the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament, or alter the
executive competence of the Scottish Ministers, should be considered by the
UK Parliament. (SP 18/03/09)
Back to Top
Events
Europa
Nostra UK Annual Meeting and Conference
Queens University Belfast, 5-8 September 2009
The conference on cultural landscape and cultural identity is being
organised in conjunction with the School of Geography, Archaeology and
Paleoecology of Queens University Belfast and the keynote speaker will be
Professor Michael Dower CBE, formerly Director of the Countryside
Commission, and an Adviser to the Council of Europe on the development of
the European Landscape Convention.
All those with an interest in the topic and wishing to receive more
information about the conference should contact Dr Lester Borley:
e-mail: lesterborley@waitrose.com
Renewable
Heritage - Microgeneration in Traditional and Historic Homes
Edinburgh, Friday 15 May 2009, 9:30am to 4pm
Following on from the success of last year's Energy Heritage conference,
the day will cover the key issues surrounding microgeneration in historic
homes, and demonstrate how they can benefit from free, clean, renewable
energy while retaining their historic integrity. The wider contexts of
sustainability and our environment will also be addressed. A series of case
studies will be presented, including a detailed presentation of a
groundbreaking solar installation in listed tenements in Edinburgh's World
Heritage Site
To reserve a place at this conference, in the first instance contact the
Sustainable Futures team at Changeworks on 0131 538 7957 or at heritage@changeworks.org.uk
Historic
Towns and Smarter Growth
Cambridge 29 - 30 April 2009, Two day conference run by Historic Towns
Forum
Influence and shape national, regional and local policy agendas; Inspire
positive responses to the challenge on growth in historic towns in a
climate of new financial realities; Influence and shape national, regional
and local policy agendas. This is some of objectives the conference will
cover.
Any enquiries or bookings please either email us at htf@uwe.ac.uk or fax back the form to 0117
9750460 or call us on 0117 9750459
http://83.170.75.16/file.php?file=/1/htf_documents/event_pages/cambridge_event.htm
Back to Top
Training
Back to Top
Job vacancies
Archaeologist,
St Kilda World Heritage Site
Fixed-term for 12 months (5-6 months on St Kilda), £20,002 + shared
accommodation on Hirta, St Kilda
The post holder will be required to monitor archaeological remains,
undertaking practical interventions and advising volunteers and contractors
as necessary; to update the Sites and Monuments Record, producing reports
and undertaking research; and to liaise with Historic Scotland,
part-funders for this post, and other partners and stakeholders in the
management and conservation of the World Heritage Site.
For full details and an application form telephone 0131243 9417 or email joinus@nts.org.uk. Closing date for
applications 31 March 2009.
Back to Top
Information
in the Bulletin is extracted from a number of websites; including the
Scottish Government (SG); the Scottish Parliament (SP); Architecture
and Design Scotland (A+DS); Historic Scotland (HS); Scottish Natural
Heritage (SNH); Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO);
English Heritage (EH); Commission for Architecture and the Built
Environment (CABE); Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG);
Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS); Department of Environment
and Rural Affairs (DEFRA); National Assembly for Wales (NAW); Forestry
Commission Scotland (FCS); Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA). For
further information, links are provided to the relevant documents. Back
copies of the Bulletin are available approximately one month after
publication on the BEFS website.
If you have any questions or comments on the above, or would like to submit
information to be included, please get in touch with Anne Wilkinson awilkinson@befs.org.uk or call
the BEFS Office on 0131 220 6241. We hope that you find the Bulletin
useful, however if you wish to be removed from the circulation list, please
get in touch.
|
