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 four 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. It also promotes energy conservation. Internationally, it is involved in partnerships and projects aimed at protecting our marine environment.
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 website 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.