Scottish Planning Policy - finalised amendments: impact assessments – December 2020

Fairer Scotland Duty Assessment Not Required Declaration

Policy title

Amendments to the Scottish Planning Policy

Directorate: Division: team

Directorate for Communities and Local Government; Planning and Architecture Division; Spatial Planning, Policy, Environment and Natural Resources Team.

Policy lead responsible for taking the decision

Fiona Simpson, Assistant Chief Planner

Rationale for decision

The Fairer Scotland Duty applies to 'decisions of a strategic nature' - these are the key, high-level choices or plans that the Scottish Government makes. The duty normally applies to new strategies, action plans, strategic delivery decisions about setting priorities and/or allocating resources, major new policy proposals, and preparing new legislation.

Having considered the Fairer Scotland Duty Interim Guidance, our view is that the amendments to the SPP do not constitute a strategic decision for the following reasons:

• The amendments are closely targeted interim amendments to an existing policy to reflect the original policy intention.
• The amendments do not directly address the preparation of local development plans, which may be considered a strategic decision.
• The amendments do not set priorities, allocate resources or commission services.

I confirm that the decision to not carry out a Fairer Scotland assessment has been authorised by:

Name and job title of Deputy Director (or equivalent): John McNairney, Chief Planner

Date authorisation given: 14 December 2020