Scotland round-up: Marine planning regime, strategic forest plan

MSPs slam marine planning regime as “unfit for purpose”

Despite five years in the making, the administration’s National Marine Plan is still not “fit for purpose”, warns the Scottish Parliament.

The Planner

Strategic Forest Plan

Dundee City Council has drawn up a strategic forest plan to protect woodlands in and around the city.

Dundee City Council

Glasgow tram-train link could increase delays

A planned tram-train link to Glasgow Airport presents “significant challenges” to other rail services, reports Transport Scotland.

The Scotsman

Aberdeen takes top spot in Carbuncle Awards

Aberdeen, the ‘Granite City’, has become the first city in Scotland to be awarded the most unwanted award in architecture - the Plook-on-the Plinth trophy for the most dismal town in the 2015 Carbuncle Awards, given by the Scottish magazine Urban Realm.

The Scotsman

Dundee made Unesco City of Design

Dundee is now officially the UK’s first Unesco City of Design.

The Scotsman

Aberdeen Oil Summit: UK, Scottish and city governments unite behind City Region Deal

Monday’s Aberdeen oil and gas summit heard strong support for an Aberdeen City Region Deal.

Aberdeen City Council

Third Grantshouse wind farm bid unveiled

Plans to build a third wind farm near the village of Grantshouse in the Scottish Borders have been unveiled.

BBC News

Isles Spatial Plan 2015 and Sustainability Appraisal Consultation

Consultation has begun on the Isles Spatial Plan, which will guide the offshore energy sector on the development of an interconnected offshore electricity grid network in the waters between Scotland, Northern Ireland, Ireland and the wider UK.

Scottish Government

Scots value heritage and culture

A survey shows nine in 10 Scots agree that heritage buildings and places should be well looked after – and nine in 10 have taken part in cultural activities in the past year.

Scottish Government 

Houses may be built on Gregory’s Girl school site

Council houses could be built on the site of the school in Cumbernauld made famous by director Bill Forsyth’s 1981 film Gregory’s Girl.

The Scotsman

Plans for 300 Aberdeen homes at Royal Cornhill site

More than 300 homes could be built on the site of the former Royal Cornhill Hospital in Aberdeen under plans to be considered by the city council next week which would involve part-demolition of some of the existing buildings.

BBC News

£55m hotel plan for old Edinburgh Royal High

Controversy over £55 million hotel plan for iconic Edinburgh landmark.

The Scotsman

Ex-print factory may become Scotland's film studio

A former print works on the Wardpark Industrial Estate at Cumbernauld is touted as the front-runner in the race to become Scotland’s first national film studio.

The Scotsman