In June 2021, Scottish Ministers appointed Reporters to examine the Council’s Proposed Local Development Plan 2 and provide recommendations. The Examination of the East Dunbartonshire Council Local Development Plan 2 has now concluded and the final report by the Reporters is being published today. Officers received an advance copy of the report on 08 July 2022 (with early conclusions on the Reporters’ findings set out below).
The Examination Report will be published on the DPEA website at: Scottish Government Planning and Environmental Appeals Division webpage.
The Report will also be available via the Council website as soon as possible on our Local Development Plan 2 webpage.
Under development plan regulations, the Council now has three months to consider the Report and submit the modified Plan to Scottish Ministers for adoption. Recommendations contained in Examination Reports are largely binding on planning authorities.
Officers will submit a detailed report to Council setting out the Reporter’s recommendations for consideration. Subject to progress in analysing the range of recommendations and the agenda, this will be required to be at Council on 22 September 2022 or a special Council in order to meet the legal timeframe. In advance of this, a Local Development Plan Working Party will be scheduled for August 2022.
An early analysis shows the key conclusions and recommendations made by the Reporter are:
- The overall Development Strategy set out in Policy 1 is broadly supported, however a number of wording updates are recommended, to ensure consistency with the approved Strategic Development Plan (Clydeplan) policy position on exceptions for housing development within the greenbelt and the ‘brownfield first’ approach. The Reporter has also recommended updated wording to clarify the policy framework for assessing telecommunications, renewable energy or heat developments as acceptable uses in the greenbelt.
- That the proposed Local Development Plan 2 meets the requirements of Scottish Planning Policy and the Strategic Development Plan (Clydeplan) with regards to housing land supply. As such the Reporter is content that an effective land supply can be maintained throughout the plan period and that no additional housing releases are required. It should be noted however that a number of technical changes relating to the text accompanying the housing land supply requirements have been made.
- With regards specifically to Housing Sub-Market Area’s (HSMA) the Reporter finds that an effective land supply is likely to be maintained in both of the HSMA’s covering East Dunbartonshire. Notwithstanding this, the Reporter considers that should a shortfall emerge in the future then the shortfall could be met through the release of sites anywhere within that HSMA.1
- With regards to individual non-allocated sites, whilst the Reporter agreed with the Council that the majority of the proposed sites would be inappropriate for housing development, the Reporters’ conclusions on a small number of sites suggests that they may have been willing to release those sites should they have found a shortfall in the housing land supply.
- Note that one housing site has been added to the plan, however this is requisite change to reflect the status of the Crofthead site in Bishopbriggs where the application was approved at planning board on 22 March 2022, subject to conclusion of a legal agreement. Similarly, a small number of allocated sites have seen their indicative capacity amended to accurately reflect recent planning consents.
- Regarding other matters within the housing policy, the Reporter has made modifications to the Council’s approach to wheelchair and accessible housing, and the requirement for a percentage of units on sites close to Town and Villages Centres to be provided as smaller housing. The conclusions on wheelchair and accessible housing may result in the need to make minor changes to the approved Design and Placemaking Supplementary Guidance.
- Agreement with the Council that the Plan should continue to safeguard land for a potential new station and associated railway infrastructure at Allander.
- The Council’s approach to climate change mitigation and adaptation is supported, including specific measures to help achieve national targets to reduce emissions. The need for long term transformational change in how our homes and buildings are heated in the future is also recognised.
However, a recommendation to update policy wording on the required sustainability and energy efficiency of new development is included, to ensure that planning and building standards procedures are in alignment.
- Support for the continued safeguarding of Strathkelvin Retail Park as primarily a comparison goods retail destination, however the Reporter does not agree that there should be a “presumption against convenience retail”, as this type of retail provision already exists within the retail park and may be acceptable in the future, provided that relevant criteria is met. A minor wording amendment is therefore recommended to better reflect the primary role of the park as a comparison destination, respect existing uses and consents, and safeguard other centres.
A LDP Newsletter will be sent out in due course, advising of the Report’s publication. A press release and social media updates will also be arranged.
Should Members require any information please contact the Land Planning Policy Team – development.plan@eastdunbarton.gov.uk
Notes
1 Under the framework of the current Clydeplan Strategic Development Plan, East Dunbartonshire is split between two Housing Sub-Market Areas (HSMA’s). Bearsden and Milngavie is located within the Greater Glasgow North West HSMA whilst the Strathkelvin portion of the Council area is located within the Strathkelvin and Greater Glasgow North East HSMA. The Land Planning Policy Team has previously worked jointly with officers in Glasgow City and West Dunbartonshire Council on matters regarding the HSMA’s and, in light of likely further challenges to the supply (particularly in Greater Glasgow North West), officers will continue to work with their counterparts to ensure an effective supply is maintained.