Modernisation of the Planning System

Related Sites

Scottish Government - ModernisationExternal link to modernisation information on the Scottish Government website

In this section

Neighbour NotificationInformation about the neighbour notification process.Planning Permission in Principle - Formerly Outline Planning PermissionInformation about obtaining planning permission in principle.Bad Neighbour DevelopmentInformation about the bad neighbour development.Local - Major and National Developments - The Hierarchy of DevelopmentsInformation about local, major and national developments.Drawings and PlansInformation about drawings and plans that should accompany planning applications.Pre-Application ConsultationInformation about pre-application consultations.Design and Access StatementsInformation about design and access statements required for major and national developments.Notices of Initiation and Completion of DevelopmentInformation about Notices of Initiation and Completion of Development.Scheme of DelegationInformation about the scheme of delegation.Local Review BodyInformation about the local review body.

Modernisation of the Planning System

Major changes to the Scottish planning system were brought forward by the Planning etc. Scotland Act 2006, and commenced August 3rd 2009. These have had an impact on many aspects associated with submitting planning applications and the overall planning process. This is a short guide to provide an overview of these changes.

Further information on these changes is available by contacting us directly, or alternatively, the latest information and legislation is available on the Scottish Government website, available from Related Sites to the left of this page.

A summary of the important changes to the procedures and assessment of planning applications is provided below:

Orkney Islands Council now carry out neighbour notification rather than the applicant. The 14 day notification period has been extended to 21 days for comments.
Outline planning applications have been replaced by ‘planning permission in principle', and reserved matters applications have been replaced by ‘applications for the approval of matters specified in conditions’.
There have been changes to the types of development which are considered as bad neighbour development.
All applications now fall within defined categories - ‘National’, ‘Major’ or ‘Local’ depending on the type or scale of the proposed development.
Applications are required to include more detailed drawings and plans.
Statutory pre-application consultation is required for “National” and “Major” development.
Design and access statements are required for particular categories of development or developments in particular designated areas.
The duration of planning permissions has been shortened, from 5 years to 3 years.
Applicants are required to give the Council notice of when the approved development is commenced and completed.
A statutory scheme of delegation allows planning officers to make more decisions on planning applications provided certain criteria are met.
The appeals and review process allows more decisions to be made locally. Planning decisions on local developments decided under the new statutory scheme of delegation by planning officers will be open to review by the Council's Local Review Body - made up of elected members of the Council - rather than by appeal to the Scottish Government.

A more detailed explanation of these changes is provided in the pages within this section.