Appeal rights remain unchanged following today’s meeting of the Scottish Parliament’s Local Government & Communities Committee.  Responding, Director of Planning at industry body Home for Scotland Tammy Swift-Adams said:

“Scotland’s planning and development communities have been on tenterhooks, waiting to see whether populism or pragmatism would win out in the debate on planning appeal rights.

“Whilst the amendments which concerned us most have been voted down for now, uncertainty remains as to what will happen at Stage 3 when the Bill is debated by the full parliament. Much work remains to be done as the Bill’s progress continues. 

“Homes for Scotland will continue to work with MSPs and other stakeholders to help shape a planning system that delivers what the country needs, including what the review set out to facilitate:  significantly more homes.  Politicians of all parties have agreed this is a top priority.  Changing appeal rights would have the opposite effect, cutting off a small but vital source of housing supply. 

“Substantial evidence has already been submitted on why this is the case and why it would not only exacerbate the housing crisis but also damage the Scottish economy and risk jobs.

“Fairness in planning doesn’t hinge on who has access to appeal rights, but on what the planning system succeeds in delivering. It is clear, however, that more constructive and trust-building ways of positively engaging people in planning must be found.”