Scotland round-up: Scottish vacant land task force looking for development opportunities; Edinburgh booze ban moves

A round-up of planning news in Scotland: 23 November-30 November, 2018
Scottish vacant land task force looking for development opportunities
The newly formed vacant and derelict land taskforce established by the Scottish Land Commission and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency began work in earnest this week.
The Planner
RTPI makes inclusivity commitment
The RTPI has committed to increase the diversity of the planning profession. It said the profession should be more representative of the communities it serves.
The Planner
Large swathes of Edinburgh will be classified as having too many businesses selling alcohol under radical plans to curb the number of new drinking premises in parts of the city, including the Old Town, Princes Street, Leith Street, Tollcross, Dean Village, the West End, Haymarket, Southside, Canongate and Dumbiedykes.
The Scotsman
MSPs urge salmon farm regime reforms
Urgent action needs to be taken to improve the regulation of the Scottish salmon farming industry and to address fish health and environmental challenges, a Holyrood committee has concluded.
Scottish Parliament
The Port of Cromarty Firth board has announced funding of £30 million for a new quayside that will act as an energy and cruise ship hub able to accommodate larger vessels and renewable, decommissioning and oil and gas projects.
The Scotsman
Scottish Enterprise has approved a funding offer of £10 million towards Peel Ports’ £30m proposed project to redevelop its Hunterston Port site in North Ayrshire with a new dry dock.
Glasgow Herald
Unauthorised mountain bike trail guidance published
A new guide tackling the issue of unauthorised mountain bike trails was unveiled at the three-day Scottish Mountain Bike Conference in Aviemore. The guidance is in response to a growth in the unauthorised construction of mountain bike tracks and features.
Scottish Natural Heritage
The Dutch architects behind the transformation of B-listed Perth City Hall have submitted a planning application for the development of a flexible museum, exhibition space and café to help meet the city’s cultural aspirations.
Scottish Construction Now
Record-breaking outdoor activity
Visits to the outdoors have hit record levels in Scotland, a new survey from Scottish Natural Heritage has revealed.
Scottish Natural Heritage
Peebles mill conversion appeal
Developers have appealed their plans to convert a former mill in Peebles into 69 new homes to the Scottish Government over non-determination.
BBC News
Edinburgh office conversion refusal
Councillors have refused planning permission for the conversion of a 1970s office building on the West Coates area of Edinburgh into a 157-bedroom hotel, against the advice of officials.
Scottish Construction Now
A category B listed landmark university building in Glasgow – the six-storey Wolfson Building on the University of Strathclyde campus – is to undergo a multi-million-pound revamp.
Glasgow Herald
Forres distillery developments
Whisky production may yet resume at the Dallas Dhu Distillery in Forres, currently used as a museum, under the latest proposals for the site canvassed by Historic Environment Scotland.
Glasgow Herald
New images of a proposed pedestrian and cycle bridge over the M8 that will link north Glasgow to the city centre have been unveiled as the local authority prepares to submit the development for planning.
Scottish Construction Now
Orkney Islands Council is to purchase a group of uninhabited islands because they offer a “significant development opportunity”.
Scottish Construction Now
Edinburgh’s new two-wheeler scheme – Just Eat Cycles – is to introduce 20 new hire points across the city to meet growing user demand.
Edinburgh Evening News
The planning application for “My Ness”, the centrepiece of the River Ness Public Art project in Inverness, is to be submitted next month (December).
The Highland Council
Glaswegians want more protected bike lanes
The UK's most comprehensive assessment of cycling in cities, Bike Life, has revealed that more than eight out of 10 people in Glasgow support building more protected roadside cycle lanes even when this could mean less space for other road traffic.
Glasgow City Council
Funding for Fort Augusts lock gates
Scottish Canals has successfully attracted funding worth more than £5 million to prevent delays on the Caledonian Canal by replacing lock gates at Fort Augustus.
Edinburgh Evening News
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