Scotland round-up: Go-ahead for Stonehaven championship golf course despite loss of ancient woodland; Scotland’s population at its highest ever

A round-up of planning news in Scotland: 23 April-29 April, 2016
Go-ahead for Stonehaven championship golf course despite loss of ancient woodland
Aberdeenshire councillors have approved proposals for a championship golf course, designed by golf legend Jack Nicklaus, to be built on the Ury Estate to the north-west of Stonehaven.
The Planner
RTPI publishes ethics guidance
The RTPI has for the first time published guidance on professional ethics, which reiterates the need for planners to “act fearlessly and impartially in their professional judgement”.
The Planner
Scottish Labour make pledge to end housing crisis
The Scottish Labour Party has pledged to end the housing crisis and review future transport investments so that the network meets the needs of the public.
The Planner
SNP makes rural housing commitment
The Scottish National Party has pledged to create a Rural Housing Fund and to bring forward a Planning Reform Bill if re-elected in the Scottish Parliament elections.
The Planner
Scotland’s population at its highest ever
Statistics published this week by the National Records of Scotland (NRS) show that the estimated population of the country was 5,373,000 in mid-2015 - a rise of 25,400 (0.5 per cent) since mid-2014.
Scottish Government
Hargreaves to to accelerate opencast site closures
Opencast mine operator Hargreaves Services is to accelerate the closure of six out of its seven sites in Scotland across Lanarkshire, Ayrshire and Fife.
BBC News
Glasgow School of Art to spend £80m transforming main campus
Glasgow School of Art is to spend £80 million overhauling its main campus - more than twice as much as expected - in the wake of the blaze at its iconic Mackintosh Building.
The Scotsman
Scottish Government's house sales tax fails to meet target
The amount of money raised by the Scottish Government's Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) has failed to reach its official target for residential sales, it has been revealed.
Herald Scotland
Revised Selkirk holiday lodge plans rejected
Revised proposals for a holiday lodge scheme near Selkirk have been rejected by Scottish Borders Council.
BBC News
Greenock’s yellow house repainted after battle with council
A long running planning dispute between Inverclyde Council and the owners of a house in a conservation area in Greenock, painted lemon, has been resolved.
The Scotsman
Hundreds of new homes for Buchan coastal village
Claymore Homes has confirmed it is considering a site in Cruden Bay, Aberdeenshire, for a 200-home development.
Press and Journal
TOP JOBS
TOP NEWS