Local Authorities (Structure Plans) (Hansard, 15 May 1996)

§ Mr. Michael Forsyth

I am delighted to announce a new initiative today which is consistent with my general aim to devolve more power from central to local government in Scotland. I propose to give councils greater freedom for deciding how best to allocate appropriate land for housing in structure plans on the basis of their own detailed knowledge of local circumstances and priorities, including housing demand. This responds to representations about the inflexibility of the present policy and persistent claims about central Government imposing unacceptable levels of development on existing communities. Accordingly, what I propose represents a change from the current position where the Government set out guidance on what needs to be provided and I take decisions about whether to approve or modify the structure plans in the light of these. In my view, this is too prescriptive and means too many planning decisions are taken centrally.

My new policy will enable authorities to take on real responsibility for deciding what level of provision is appropriate in their areas having regard both to those who want to live in the area and those who already live there. To assist authorities with this task I will be publishing shortly fresh guidance which will set out the factors authorities should take into account. In addition to housing demand these will include economic, infrastructure, environmental and amenity considerations with a view to authorities striking a balance in the light of local priorities. Authorities will now, for example, be better able to protect small towns and villages from inappropriate large scale development where they consider this would adversely affect the local environment and amenity.

In considering the structure plans which come before me, I will retain my present obligation to satisfy myself that the way authorities have carried out this balancing is reasonable and complies with policy guidance.