The Town and Country Planning (National Planning Framework and Local Development Plan Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 - Impact Assessments

Equalities Impact Assessment (EQIA)

EQUALITY IMPACT ASSESSMENT NOT REQUIRED DECLARATION

Policy title

The Town and Country Planning (National Planning Framework and Local Development Plan Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2024

Which National Outcome(s) does the policy contribute to?

A plan-led approach is central to supporting the delivery of Scotland’s national outcomes and broader sustainable development goals.

These regulations, setting out procedures for making amendments to both the National Planning Framework and Local Development Plans, contribute to the national outcomes identified within these plans including:

• We live in communities that are inclusive, empowered, resilient and safe.
• We have a globally competitive, entrepreneurial, inclusive and sustainable economy.
• We value, enjoy, protect and enhance our environment.
• We are healthy and active.

Directorate: Local Government and Housing Directorate.

Division: Planning, Architecture and Regeneration Division

Team: Planning Transformation

Policy lead responsible for taking the decision: Ruairidh Anderson

Please record why you are not carrying out an EQIA and what your justification is for making that decision.

An EQIA was previously undertaken to support the Planning (Scotland) Bill, which introduced the principle for amending NPF and LDPs and for the procedures to be set in regulations.

In January 2020 we published our Integrated Impact Assessment (IIA) screening/scoping report, for NPF4 and published our initial evidence base and invited feedback. In November 2021 we published our IIA Reports for comment alongside 'Scotland 2045 - Our Fourth National Planning Framework - Draft'.

The Town and Country Planning (Development Planning) (Scotland) Regulations 2023 set out the procedures for preparing a LDP and were accompanied by an EQIA. It found that since the Regulations and associated guidance were intended to be of positive benefit to Scotland’s communities, regardless of whether they fall into one or more protected groups, the EQIA did not identify any policy impacts that would adversely impact on such groups.

In developing these proposals, the public sector equality duty requires the Scottish Government to pay due regard to the need to:

• eliminate discrimination, victimisation, harassment or other unlawful conduct that is prohibited under the Equality Act 2010;
• advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not; and
• foster good relations between people who share a relevant protected characteristic.

We do not believe this position has changed based on the proposed procedures for amendments to NPF and LDPs. At this stage, we do not believe there is an indication that a further full EQIA is required.

I confirm that the decision to not carry out an EQIA has been authorised by:

Name and job title of Deputy Director (or equivalent)

Fiona Simpson

Chief Planner

Date authorisation given

06/02/2024