Permitted Development Rights review - phase 2: consultation analysis

1. Introduction

Background

The Scottish Government is carrying out a review of Permitted Development Rights (PDR) as part of a wider programme of planning reform. PDR refer to forms of development that are granted planning permission through national legislation, meaning they can be carried out without an application for planning permission having to be submitted to, and approved by, the relevant planning authority.

PDR are contained within the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Order 1992 (the GPDO) and are subject to conditions and limitations that are specified in the GPDO.

The Scottish Government's review of PDR is being taken forward in phases, with each phase looking at the potential for new and extended PDR for specific development types. This report presents analysis of responses to a public consultation on Phase 2 proposals relating to:

• EV charging infrastructure.
• Changes of use in centres and other locations.
• Port development.

The consultation opened on 11 May 2022 and closed on 3 August. The consultation documents are available on the Scottish Government's consultation website.

Profile of responses

In total 95 responses were received, of which 72 were from groups or organisations and 23 from individual members of the public. Where consent has been given to publish the response, it may be found on the Scottish Government's consultation website at: https://consult.gov.scot/planning-architecture/permitted-development-rights-review.

Respondents were asked to indicate whether they were responding as an individual or on behalf of a group or organisation. Group respondents were then allocated to one of nine categories by the analysis team. A breakdown of the number of responses received by respondent type is set out in Table 1 below, and a full list of group respondents is appended to this report as Annex 1.

Analysis and reporting

The consultation paper asked 39 questions, some of which had both closed and open elements, and some were entirely open. The report presents a question-by-question analysis of answers, with responses to the closed questions presented in tabular form, and with the number commenting at open questions also noted in each case.

Both the proportion of respondents answering closed questions and the number commenting at open questions varied considerably from question to question. To reflect this differing level of response, tables are presented with different baselines, so the total shown in each case is the total number who answered that question.

Finally, and as with any public consultation exercise, it should be noted that those responding generally have a particular interest in the subject area. Therefore, the views they express cannot necessarily be seen as representative of wider public opinion.