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

Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment

Screening Statement

A BRIA is not considered necessary. Impacts are not considered to be significant for the following reasons:

• The amendments will be time-limited. The amendments will only be applicable between their adoption and the National Planning Framework 4 being adopted by summer 2022.
• The amendments do not preclude the application of professional planning judgement in each case. The Scottish Planning Policy is a non-statutory policy, but a significant material consideration. The amendments will not directly lead to planning permission being granted or refused, as that is a matter for decision-makers in each case, taking into account the statutory development plan and other material considerations as appropriate.
• The impact on numbers of homes delivered is unknown but could reasonably be expected to be neutral. Some respondents to the consultation were of the view that the changes we originally proposed may reduce the number of homes granted planning permission. It is not possible to accurately predict the number of homes that may, or may not, gain planning permission in the absence of the policy amendments. Only developments which are not in accordance with the statutory development plan and which may not be considered to be sustainable without the use of a "tilted balance" are likely be affected. Based on the approach taken by Reporters to date, we do not expect that unsustainable developments will have benefited from the presumption prior to the Gladman decision being issued, to any significant extent We accept that the number of homes gaining planning permission on 'exception sites' may reduce as a result of some of the amendments. However, the SPP should be read and applied as a whole. The further amendments now proposed will mean that exceptional housing sites can still be brought forward, and gain consent, where they are considered to be sustainable development.
• The overarching presumption will be retained, albeit reworded. As a result, and based on our evaluation of its role to date which shows that it has been a relevant but not a determinative consideration in non-housing cases, we expect that it can still be applied broadly to applications for wider types of development. As a result the effect of the changes on other sectors is expected to be limited.

The proposed changes to the Scottish Planning policy do not:

• impose additional, or reduce existing, costs on relevant businesses or third sector organisations;
• impose additional costs on public sector organisations that deliver services; or
• involve a transfer of costs or benefits from one group to another, even where it does not change overall net costs or benefits.

Some consultees were of the view that the changes originally proposed would impact on business and employment. Taking into account these views and the finalised changes, we are of the view that a fuller BRIA is not required.

Planning and Architecture Division, 14 December 2020