Planning Briefs to improve quality of Local Plan housing

Wednesday, October 26 2005

Scottish Borders Council is publishing a series of Draft Planning Briefs to make it easier for the public, private companies and agencies to suggest improvements to housing developments proposed in the Local Plan.

"Planning Briefs lay out all the required information in a clear, succinct form that enables people to see exactly what is proposed and how those proposals might be improved. Our aim is to achieve the best planning solutions for the Borders under the Local Plan, and we welcome everyone's suggestions as to how that might be achieved," said Brian Frater, SBC's Head of Planning & Building Standards.

"A Planning Brief is a Supplementary Planning Guidance document which summarises the Planning Authority's guidelines and requirements for the development of a particular site or collection of sites. A Planning Brief is generally produced for housing sites of a significant size or for particularly sensitive sites which require more detailed guidance."

Each brief contains information on:
* Council Planning Policies and Supplementary Guidance
* National Planning Policy and Advice
* Constraints/Opportunities
* Basic Infrastructure
* Urban Design/Conservation/ Cultural Heritage
* Landscape/Ecology
* Water Resource Management
* Affordable Housing
* Density
* Developer Contributions
* Offsite Provisions

SBC is consulting on a site-by-site basis with relevant local and national consultees. The consultation period for each Draft Brief is six weeks, with consultations on Draft Briefs scheduled to be completed by early 2006.

The Council has produced the following Planning Briefs available to download:-
* Easter Langlee, Galashiels (Draft for Consultation, October 2005)
* Crotchetknowe, Galashiels (Draft for Consultation, October 2005)
* Sergeants Park II (Draft for Consultation, October 2005)

Draft Briefs are published in PDF format on the Council website (www.scotborders.gov.uk).

For particular questions relating to individual briefs, please contact:
Ian Aikman, DC Manager (East).Tel: 01835 825060, Hamish Bell, Assistant Planning Officer. Tel: 01835 825060.

or online

Reference: News-7587, Contact the Author