Development plan amendment regulations: consultation response summary

Question 20

Question 20A)

To what extent do you agree that planning authorities should be required to notify Scottish Ministers and to consult with the public at large and key agencies, alongside others they consider appropriate, when amending a LDP?

There were 43 responses to Question 20A, which have been set out by respondent type in Table 20 below.

Almost all (a combined 93.1%) of the respondents were supportive of the requirements laid out in question 20A, including all planning authorities, key agencies and professional representative bodies. There was a single response for each of the other 3 options of neutral, disagree and strongly disagree.

Question 20B)

Where applicable, please give reasons for your answer.

31 respondents provided further comment at Question 20B.

Summary /Themes

Most of the responses to this question confirmed that the proposed approach was appropriate and that they supported it. Aspects raised in support in further comments included the level of transparency and clarity this proposal would bring to the amendment process.

Alongside a consensus of support and themes of transparency, a few of the supportive comments also touched on resourcing and this being a key issue. This echoes the responses to question 4B, where it is highlighted that the term 'public at large' can refer to many stakeholders and therefore could be resource intensive if not clarified further.

One respondent suggested that the expectation for planning authorities to specifically engage with those relevant to the amendment being proposed could be stronger and required rather than set out in guidance.

Of the respondents who were neutral or disagreed with question 20A, only the one that answered 'disagree' provided further comment. They suggested that not all key agencies should be a required consultee, but rather the planning authority consult them where they consider that agency is relevant to the amendment being proposed.