Planning Bill passes Stage 1

Thursday, 14 June 2018

The Planning (Scotland) Bill was laid before the Scottish Parliament on 4 December 2017 and is currently working its way through the legislative process. The Bill contains a wide range measures intended to strengthen the planning system's contribution to inclusive growth and empowering communities.  The Bill sets out proposed high level changes to the overall framework under which planning operates with the detail to be contained within secondary legislation and policy guidance. 

The Bill has now been examined by the Local Government and Communities Committee which published its Consideration Stage Report 1 on 17 May 2018 and recommended that the Scottish Parliament agrees to the "general principles" of the Bill.  The Scottish Government responded in detail to the Stage Report 1 on 24 May 2018 and following a debate on 29 May 2018, the Scottish Parliament agreed to the general principles of the Bill with an overwhelming majority in support but leaving the opportunity for amendments in the subsequent parliamentary stages.