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Latest: Welcome to the BEFS e-Bulletin. In the last few weeks there has been an
outburst of parliamentary questions and answers, especially in relation
to planning policy. The Scottish Government has published a short
additional consultation on the Consolidated SPP. At a
conference dedicated to the Marine Bill, Environment Secretary Richard
Lochhead published the Marine Bill, although, which is still to be passed
by the Parliament, resulting in immediate parliamentary questions on the
reasons for this.
Upcoming BEFS events:
An extra general meeting will be held 14 Wednesday October, 10.30 -
13.00, at RICS, Edinburgh to inform members and subscribers about the
results from the intermediary functions research, and discuss BEFS'
response to the results. For more information contact BEFS.
On Friday 16 October BEFS will hold a joint workshop with HS on
Conservation Areas and Certificates not to List - relating to the Historic
Environment (Amendment) Bill (for more info see "events" below)
There are also plans for a consultation workshop in November on the
Guidance Notes which recently have been published for consultation by
Historic Scotland.
For further information on BEFS visit: www.befs.org.uk
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Consultations
Scottish
Planning Policy - Proposed Policy Changes (SG 30/09/09)
Since the publication of the draft consolidated SPP two important
pieces of legislation have been passed by the Scottish Parliament which
have implications for planning policy: the Climate Change (Scotland) Act
2009 and the Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009.
The Scottish Government is proposing some changes to policy as a result of
these Acts and is consulting on the proposed policy changes until 12
November 2009. As a result of the consultation on the draft
consolidated SPP, changes are also
being proposed to the sustainable development and coastal planning sections
and to the policy on high amenity business locations.
The proposed policy changes have been assessed for their likely
environmental effects under the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act
2005. The results are set out in an annex to the environmental
report, which is published alongside the statement of proposed policy
changes.
Proposed policy changes - http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/09/29104831/0
Environmental Report Annex - http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/09/29104534/0
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Publications
Consolidated
Scottish Planning Policy: Consultation Responses (SG 30/09/09)
Responses received during consultation on the consolidated Scottish Planning
Policy (SPP)
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/09/09094537/0
Scottish
Planning Policy-Analysis of Consultation Responses (SG 30/09/09)
Analysis of the responses to the public consultation paper on consolidated
Scottish Planning Policy.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/09/28092356/4
Scotland's
First Marine Bill (SG 30/09/09)
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/09/28115722/0
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Scottish Government news releases
Scotland's
marine heritage (SG 30/09/09)
Some of the secrets and mysteries of Scotland's seas could soon be revealed
with the help of the Marine Bill which aims to improve protection and
understanding of the country's marine heritage. It is hoped technological
advances and opportunities for closer cooperation on survey and data
collection will help locate undiscovered treasures such as historic
shipwrecks.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2009/09/30102214
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News releases
Fairer,
faster planning decisions for major developments (DCLG 30/09/09)
The Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) is open for business from
today to advise developers of new large infrastructure projects vital to
the country's future - such as power stations, roads, railways and airports
- in preparation for the major planning applications the IPC will consider
from March 2010.
Eight former planning systems are being replaced by a single process,
cutting the time taken to make decisions from up to seven years to under a
year and saving the country up to £300m a year.
http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/1347776
Heritage
Minister sets direction to better tell the story of Wales (NAW 22/09/09))
A new survey to identify 20th century assets of historic importance in
Wales and a register of Welsh Battlefields will be among the priorities of
the Heritage Minister, Alun Ffred Jones as he publishes his Strategic
Direction Statement for the Historic Environment of Wales on 22 September.
The action outlined in the statement, the first in Wales since 2003, will
contribute to the work of ensuring that Wales' story is told so that the
people of Wales and visitors alike gain a better understanding of our
Historic Environment.
http://new.wales.gov.uk/news/latest/090922wales/?lang=en
Better buildings and spaces improve quality of life, says the public (CABE
16/09/09)
Nearly nine out of ten people say that better quality buildings and public
spaces improve their quality of life, according to new MORI research
published by CABE on its tenth anniversary. CABE is marking its first
decade with an exploration of fresh ideas for the next ten years. As a
society, we face three crises - an age of austerity, a short time to
stabilise greenhouse gas emissions, and social pessimism. The strongest
response to all these can come through changes to our built environment.
http://www.cabe.org.uk/news/better-buildings-and-spaces-improve-quality-of-life
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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-27859
Elaine Murray: To ask the Scottish Executive what the purpose was of
publishing the document, Scotland's First Marine Bill, on 30 September
2009.
S3W-27862
Elaine Murray: To ask the Scottish Executive whether it anticipates that
the Marine (Scotland) Bill will be amended at Stages 2 and 3. (SP 01/10/09)
S3W-27863
Elaine Murray: To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason it did not
delay the publication of the document, Scotland's First Marine Bill, until
after the Marine (Scotland) Bill had been passed by the Scottish
Parliament. (SP 01/10/09)
S3W-27755 Patrick Harvie: To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to
assist the construction sector in ensuring that it is able to make a
significant contribution to reducing carbon emissions and improving the
built environment. (SP 28/09/09)
S3W-27507 Ross Finnie: To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the
assessment matrix used to score potential national developments was
published after the proposed National Planning Framework for Scotland 2
(NPF2) had been laid before the Parliament and after the close of the call
for evidence to the Local Government and Communities Committee for its
consideration of the NPF2. (SP 21/09/09)
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Recent parliamentary answers
Questions
marked with a triangle are initiated by the Scottish Executive in order to
facilitate the provision of information to the Parliament.
Q S3W-26756
Liam McArthur: To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to
consolidate planning policy guidance into a single document. (SP 31/08/09)
A Answered by Stewart Stevenson
(23/09/09): The consolidated SPP sets out existing planning policy taken
from the current Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) and National Planning
Policy Guideline (NPPG) series. Advice, contextual information and duplication
have been removed to enable a focus on the policy.
The consolidation of the SPP and NPPG series was announced in October 2008.
A series of pre-consultation meetings were held with key stakeholders in
January and February 2009, supplemented with direct meetings between
government officials and stakeholders. A series of consultation events were
held around Scotland in April and May 2009 to explain the draft SPP. Direct
meetings between officials and stakeholders have continued during and after
the consultation period.
Q S3W-26760 Liam McArthur: To ask
the Scottish Executive what meetings ministers have had with interested
parties about concerns regarding a lack of detail contained in the proposed
single planning policy guidance document. (SP 31/08/09)
A Answered by Stewart Stevenson
(23/09/09): All meetings have been between government officials and
interested parties.
Q S3W-26763 Liam McArthur: To ask
the Scottish Executive whether it will seek to make a statement to the
Parliament on its intentions regarding the consolidation of planning policy
guidance and, if so, when it plans to bring this to the Parliamentary
Bureau for discussion. (SP 31/08/09)
A Answered by Stewart Stevenson
(23/09/09): The single Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) is a consolidation of
existing policy rather than a review of policy. Scottish ministers intend
to notify Parliament by means of a letter to the Convenor of the Local
Government and Communities Committee prior to publication of the
consolidated SPP.
Q S3W-26764 Liam McArthur: To ask
the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of concerns among a
cross-section of interested parties that a lack of detail in a future,
single planning policy guidance document could introduce greater
uncertainty, delay and cost into the planning process. (SP 31/08/09)
A Answered by Stewart Stevenson
(23/09/09): We are aware of these concerns and will be taking the comments
of these parties into account when finalising the consolidated Scottish
Planning Policy, alongside the comments of those who support the
consolidation on the basis that national planning policy is clearer and
easier to understand.
Q S3W-27072 Alison McInnes: To ask
the Scottish Executive, following the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009
receiving Royal Assent, whether it plans to undertake an early review of
the second National Planning Framework to ensure that it is compatible with
the Act, and what its reasons are for its position on this matter. (SP
10/09/09)
A Answered by Stewart Stevenson
(23/09/09): We are currently engaging with lead partners and delivery
bodies on the implementation of the strategy set out in the second National
Planning Framework, as it has an important part to play in achieving
greenhouse gas emission targets. We will consider the need to revise the
National Planning Framework in accordance with the provisions of planning
legislation.
Q S3W-27075 - Alison McInnes (SP
09/09/09): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that carbon
impact is a material consideration in determining applications for planning
and related consents.
A Answered by Stewart Stevenson
(23/09/09): This would depend on the nature of the consents involved in a
particular case. The range of potential material considerations is very
wide and can only be determined in the context of each case, but may
include carbon impact. It is for the decision maker to decide if a
consideration is material and the weight to be attached to it when deciding
whether to grant or refuse planning permission. The Climate Change
(Scotland) Act 2009 will place a duty on public bodies to exercise their
functions in a way best calculated to contribute to the delivery of carbon
reduction targets.
Q S3W-27077 Alison McInnes: To ask
the Scottish Executive whether it considers that an application for
planning or other consent for a proposed development identified as a
national development in the second National Planning Framework could be
refused on carbon-impact grounds. (SP 10/09/09)
A Answered by Stewart Stevenson
(23/09/09): I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-27075 on 22
September 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-27082 Patricia Ferguson: To
ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to be in a position to announce
whether it will continue to provide a Town Centre Regeneration Fund in
2010-11. (SP 10/09/09)
A Answered by Alex Neil
(23/09/09): There are no current plans for provision of a Town Centre Regeneration
Fund in 2010-11.
Q S3O-7879 Des McNulty: To ask the
Scottish Executive what discussions are taking place with Glasgow City
Council and the architecture and design professions regarding the future of
the Lighthouse in Glasgow. (SP 10/09/09)
A The Minister for Culture,
External Affairs and the Constitution (Michael Russell): As the member
knows, because he asked a similar question last week and is a former member
of the board of the Lighthouse, the future of the Lighthouse Trust as a
company is now unfortunately in the hands of the administrators.. Further
discussion
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-09/sor0917-02.htm#Col19735
Q S3W-26802 Robin Harper: To ask
the Scottish Executive whether it will address the situation whereby, under
the Simplified Building Energy Model used to create an energy performance
certificate for non-domestic buildings, an identical building can be rated
G in Scotland and C in England and Wales.( SP 01/09/09)
A Answered by Stewart Stevenson
(SP 10/09/09): There is no hard evidence to indicate that this occurs.
However, it is clear that an important difference between the EPC regimes
is that in Scotland a direct assessment of emissions is given, which is
indexed against an absolute scale. In England, the emissions assessment is
indexed relative to benchmarks of typical existing buildings. Research has
been commissioned to demonstrate and compare carbon dioxide emission
ratings from building types in England and Scotland using the Simplified
Building Energy Model (SBEM). I anticipate that the research will be
published in late 2009.
Q S3W-26809 Robin Harper: To ask
the Scottish Executive what plans it has to make the collected and collated
data used in producing energy performance certificates available
anonymously for the purpose of analysis and policy development. (SP 01/09/09)
A Answered by Stewart Stevenson
(SP 10/09/09) There are currently no plans to publish this information.
Q S3W-26889 Mike Rumbles: To ask
the Scottish Executive whether it will consider amending planning
legislation to ensure that applicants have authorisation from the relevant
landowners before lodging planning applications. (SP 03/09/09)
A Answered by Stewart Stevenson
(SP 11/09/09): We have no plans to amend planning legislation to require
applicants to obtain the authorisation of owners of land before applying
for planning permission for said land. The planning application process is
concerned with whether a particular development proposal at a particular
location is acceptable in planning terms. It is for any prospective developer
to obtain, amongst other things, the necessary property rights "
through lease or purchase for example - to exercise a planning permission.
The latter is not part of the planning application process.
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Other parliamentary activity
Motions
S3M-4941 Pauline McNeill: Doors Open Day Proves a Hit-That the Parliament
congratulates the organisers of Glasgow's Doors Open Day, now in its 20th
year, which ran from Thursday 17 to Sunday 20 September 2009, with thousands
of people taking the opportunity to look inside some of the city's most
historic and interesting buildings, including theatres, churches and
galleries; notes that entry was completely free, and applauds new arts hub
Trongate 103, which welcomed 2,250 visitors through its doors, as well as
venues such as Glasgow's Police Museum, which welcomed 1,200 people, the
Glasgow Steiner School, which welcomed 400 people, and the Glasgow Art Club
on Bath Street, which had around 300 visitors. (SP 28/09/09)
S3M-04908 Liam McArthur: 2009 Greenspace Survey- That the Parliament notes
the results of the 2009 survey undertaken by Greenspace Scotland that shows
that 63% of Scots use their local greenspaces every week, up from 49% five
years ago, and that 86% agree that it is important to have a greenspace in
their local area; further notes that the most popular uses of greenspaces
are for walking, relaxation, exercise and play, all of which contribute to
an individual's health and wellbeing; believes that this amply demonstrates
the importance of greenspaces and the need to maintain and improve them so
that everyone has easy access to well-managed greenspaces, and urges
government at all levels to ensure that the provision of well-managed
greenspaces is given a high priority along with work to encourage people
from all backgrounds and ages to make full use of their local greenspaces.
(SP 22/09/09)
Petitions
PE1277
Petition by Mike Browne on behalf of UKRIGS in Scotland Calling on the
Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government through Scottish
Planning Policies and Planning Advice Notes to establish a geodiversity
duty which integrates all necessary local and national structures for the
efficient collection, analysis and sharing of geodiversity data to inform
better decision making processes.
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Events
Historic
Environment (Amendment) Bill: Certificates not to List and Conservation
Areas
16 October 2009, 9.30am - 1.30pm (incl lunch), McDonald Rooms, 95 McDonald
Road, Edinburgh, EH7 4NS
This workshop on Historic Environment (Amendment) Bill will focus on the
issues of Certificates not to List (previously called Certificates of
Immunity) and Conservation Areas. It will give you an opportunity to get an
update from Historic Scotland on these issues, hear others' views and
contribute your own, before the Bill enters Parliament.
For more
information or to book a place contact BEFS, 0131 220 6241 or a.wilkinson@befs.org.uk
Energy
Heritage fact finding seminar for community groups
14 October 2009, 11.45am - 4.45pm (includes a networking lunch), The City
of Edinburgh Methodist Mission, 2 West Tollcross, Edinburgh, EH3 9BP.
The day will include presentations from experts at Changeworks, Lister
Housing Cooperative and Edinburgh World Heritage (tbc) and workshops which
will include a site visit to Lister Housing Cooperative on Lauriston Place.
Participants will come away with an understanding of the practicalities you
need to think about when developing your project, considerations for
planning permission along with grants and funding available. The award
winning Energy Heritage project and the Renewable Heritage project will be
used as case studies.
Places are limited so book early to avoid disappointment. Please note,
priority will be given to groups who are working with traditional, listed
or hard to treat properties.
To book your places email heritage@changeworks.org.uk
or call 0131 538 7957 / 0131 468 8660. Cost: free
For information about the Energy Heritage or Renewable Heritage projects
and to download the Renewable Heritage guide visit:
http://www.changeworks.org.uk/content.php?linkid=373
http://www.changeworks.org.uk/content.php?linkid=424
Developing
and Implementing Whole Town Centre Strategies
Thursday 29 October 2009, Thistle Hotel, Cambridge Street, Glasgow
The learning network, in partnership with Business Improvement Districts
Scotland, is hosting this event looking at whole town centre strategies.
The event will see the findings presented from a recent scoping exercise
which investigated what sort of whole town centre strategies are currently
in operation in Scotland. A full programme is available on the website
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/regeneration/pir/WTCSEvent
Surveyors
@ Lunch networking event - 12:30 - 14:30
Thursday 29 October 2009, The Living Room, 113-115 George Street,
Edinburgh, EH2 4JN
This event will offer attendees the opportunity to network with like-minded
property professionals located within Edinburgh and the east of Scotland.
See website for booking.
http://www.rics.org/site/scripts/events_info.aspx?eventID=253
Bill
Boler event
Come along to The Lighthouse in Glasgow on Thursday 12 November to
hear Bill Boler (Business in the Community) discuss his experiences in
retail-led regeneration of towns. The session will build on Bill's
well-received keynote presentation at the learning network launch event in
February.
Places are limited. Book your free place by emailing Yvonne Gavan, or
calling 0141 371 2724
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Training
P1
Introduction to Masonry Repair in Traditional Buildings
28 - 30 Sept 2009, Penicuik House, Penicuik
This 3 day workshop aims to provide an introductory guide to the use of a
range of binders for the effective conservation and repair of traditional
masonry buildings. A combination of lecture and practical teaching this
course gives an understanding of traditional building technology. By the
end of the workshop you will be able to recognise vernacular and historic
finishes to masonry buildings and understand the performance
characteristics of lime binders and sands.
Cost: Was £375 Now Only £225+Vat
A Guide to Winter Working with Lime
1 October 2009, Penicuik House, Penicuik
Our hints, tips and practical advice will help you extend your season
working with lime mortars successfully. The reality is that contracting is
a 365 days a year business and you don't have the luxury of picking your
weather windows.
Cost: Only £65 + vat including lunch! For further information or to book
your course please visit www.scotlime.org
or contact us on tel: 01383 872722 or email: admin@scotlime.org
Vacancies
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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.
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