Planning Service
Welcome to the Planning Service's web pages! We hope you find them useful. At present, the amount of information available is limited, but we intend to expand it in the near future. We welcome suggestions for improvement.
The Planning Service is concerned with ensuring that Shetland's physical development occurs in ways that bring economic, environmental and social benefit to the islands. We want development to be sustainable, in other words to manage resources in a way that will benefit not just today's Shetland, but the Shetland inhabited by future generations.
We try to do this through each of the five services that make up the Planning Service. Briefly -
Development Plans service
Prepares and maintains the Structure Plan and Local Plan, which set out the framework for
development and regeneration, reflecting the priorities established
by the Council and local communities;
Development Management service
Seeks to ensure that proposals for new development are carefully
considered, taking
account of Council
policies. It also follows up cases where development has
proceeded in contravention of planning control
Building Standards service
Checks that new buildings and alterations
to existing buildings are constructed in compliance with the
requirements of the Building Regulations, for example ensuring
that means of escape from fire, insulation and construction are
satisfactory;
Heritage service
Looks after our very rich heritage of buildings, landscapes,
plants and animals. Internationally, it is involved
in partnerships and projects aimed
at protecting our marine environment.
Marine Planning service
Undertakes consultation on new, and modifications to existing developments in the marine environment in line with Council and national policies. Leads on the fast evolving sphere of marine spatial planning.
But this is only a part of the work that we do. For example, we are
the Council service responsible for flood prevention and coast protection;
and we are overseeing the introduction of the new legislation on access
to the countryside. We licence theatres, cinemas, even hypnotists! We
place special emphasis on a partnership approach to the regeneration
of those areas of Shetland that are disadvantaged environmentally, economically
or socially.
Over recent years we have begun to share our experience relating to oil development with people in other parts of the world, for example Canada, Angola and Nigeria. We are active partners in an international project aimed at ensuring that nuclear waste is managed properly. Information on all of these topics will be made available on this web site as it develops.
Planning is an essential tool in meeting the challenges - and seizing the opportunities - that face Shetland and the world in the 21st century. We are always happy to listen to your concerns and to hear your ideas for a better future for our islands. And if you're interested in a career in planning, we can provide advice.