Help the planning application determination process
The Scottish Government has set up a Proportionality Short life Working Group to focus on the issue of provision of information to accompany planning applications.
Championing proportionality of planning assessments
Providing too much or too little information to accompany planning applications can add to costs and delays to determination. Once an application is valid, the clock starts on the time period for reaching a decision. The information required for an application to be legally valid (and ‘start the clock’) is actually quite limited. Beyond that minimum level, it is normal for additional information to be necessary so that the planning authority can understand the merits and impacts of a proposed development and reach a decision. The Planning Service already recommends that reference is made to the Heads of Planning Scotland (HOPS) validation of applications guidance HOPS validation & determination guidelines to help avoid delays, and also has its Full Planning and Householder checklists to assist .
Applicants are encouraged to think beyond the statutory requirements and anticipate what additional information might be needed to support efficient decision making. The key is providing enough information to give professional planners the confidence to make or recommend a decision on the proposed development.
The Scottish Government has established a Proportionality Short Life Working Group focussing on the issue and it recently published a blog on a number of key principles and best practice.
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