Scotland round-up: Chief planner highlights housing land and local place plans, Scottish Government partners with RTPI on digital planning

Scotland’s chief planner highlights housing land and local place plans

New statutory requirements relating to land for housing, which will form part of National Planning Framework 4 and, separately, the introduction of place plans in the new-look planning system, are highlighted in an update from Scottish planning minister Kevin Stewart and chief planner John McNairney.

The Planner

UK Government outlines ‘low-carbon’ sector deal for oil and gas industry

The UK Government has set out a ‘landmark’ North Sea Transition Deal with the oil and gas industry as it seeks to make sure that ‘high-skilled oil and gas workers and the supply chain will not be left behind in the transition to a low-carbon future’. The sector is based in Scotland and the north-east of England.

The Planner

Scottish Government partners with RTPI on digital planning

The Scottish Government has chosen RTPI Scotland for an early delivery partnership in its digital transformation programme.

The Planner

Scottish Government policy should feature 20-minute neighbourhoods

RTPI Scotland has exhorted the Scottish Government to review planning policy and practice to make sure that it has the 20-minute neighbourhood concept embedded in it.

The Planner

£22m for peatland restoration in Scotland

The Scottish Government has announced a £22 million funding package as part of its peatland restoration programme.

The Planner

RTPI: Planning investment required to deliver climate action

An investor programme that covers the whole of the UK is needed to enable local authority-cross department collaboration to address the climate crisis.

The Planner

Elgin housing and city centre masterplan

Moray Council has approved proposals for an affordable housing and care village development of up to 200 properties at Bilbohall in Elgin on behalf of the local authority and Grampian Housing Association. Meanwhile, in a separate development, the council has published for consultation a draft masterplan designed to create a well-connected, healthy and sustainable Elgin city centre

Press & Journal and Moray Council

Capital cop shop lined up for homes?

Edinburgh’s police HQ in Fettes is set to be sold off and demolished to make way for hundreds of homes in a deal with the city council, according to media reports.

Edinburgh Evening News

West Lothian housing

Taylor Wimpey East Scotland has submitted detailed proposals to West Lothian Council for the provision of 191 new homes at Heartlands, near Whitburn.

Scottish Housing News

Pollockshields flats approved

Southside Housing Association has received the go-ahead from the city council for a 120-flat development at Pollokshields in Glasgow.

Scottish Construction Now

Green light for key Edinburgh bike and walking link

The £5 million Roseburn to Union Canal Link, an active travel project for cyclists and pedestrians on the western side of Edinburgh city centre that also provides enhanced play and urban gardening spaces, has been given the green light by the city council.

Scottish Construction Now

Govan flats proposals

Govan Housing Association has submitted detailed proposals for 92 affordable homes and six ground-floor commercial units aimed at community ventures at Water Row in Govan, Glasgow.

Scottish Housing News

Highland members mull fusion plant

Highland councillors are considering making a bid for a prototype fusion power plant to be built at the Dounreay nuclear complex near Thurso in Caithness.

BBC News

Urban community land assets increase

A new report published by Community Land Scotland highlights that 20 per cent of all community-owned assets are now urban, and not just rural.

Community Land Scotland

Funding for Gypsies and Travellers

Up to £20 million of funding to improve the provision of accommodation for Gypsy and Traveller communities is being made available as part of Scotland’s first long-term national housing strategy. Officials are also drawing up a design guide for sites.

Scottish Government

‘Rest and be thankful’ routing moves

Transport Scotland has unveiled its preferred long-term solution to the landslip-plagued A83 Rest and Be Thankful road as well as “major progress” on additional short and medium-term plans for the Argyll to Bute route.

Transport Scotland

Land use strategy published

The government’s Agriculture and Rural Delivery Directorate has just published its third five-year land use strategy setting out the administration’s vision, objectives, and policies to achieve sustainable land use.

Scottish Government

Funding package for Cairn Homes

Cairn Housing Association has welcomed a £55 million funding package from the Royal Bank of Scotland to refinance existing loans, improve the energy efficiency of its properties and support its pipeline of around 600 new homes.

The Scotsman

Borders community food strategy launched

A five-year community food growing strategy has been launched by the Scottish Borders Council which aims to encourage initiatives from allotments to community gardens.

Scottish Borders Council

Aberdeen ebike operator named

The operator for Aberdeen’s new electric bike hire scheme, due to launch in late summer, has been announced as Big Issue ShareBike Ltd, which will see ShareBike, an established Norwegian bike hire company, team up with The Big Issue to launch Big Issue eBikes.

Aberdeen City Council