Monday 20 May 2013

Consultation: The Legislative Framework Governing Allotments



Last week for consultation here

Extract from foreword: 

"...In the summer last year a consultation on the proposed content of a 
Community Empowerment and Renewal Bill asked people what changes 
should be made to the existing legislation on allotments. The current 
consultation builds on this work and asks more specifically about the ways 
in which it could be revised. Your views will help us be clearer about what 
changes are needed and will shape the future legislation in this area..."

[Please return your completed ‘Respondent Information Form’ (pages 1 and 2 of this document) and  ‘Consultation Response Form’ to allotmentconsultation2013@scotland.gsi.gov.uk by Friday 24th May 2013.]




Wind Turbine Noise - this will take a while to read



A GOOD PRACTICE GUIDE TO THE APPLICATION OF ETSU-R-97 FOR THE ASSESSMENT AND RATING OF WIND TURBINE NOISE


Extract from above guidelines

...In response to a request from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), the Institute of Acoustics (IOA) set up a noise working group (IOA-NWG) to take forward (where possible) the recommendations of the Hayes McKenzie Partnership Reporti
on ‘Analysis of How Noise Impacts are considered in the Determination of Wind Farm Planning Applications’ Ref HM: 2293/R1 dated 6th April 2011. 

This good practice guide is the output of a process to capture and report good practice in the application of the ETSU-R-97 methodology, which included a 10 week consultation and two peer reviews.

"...These changes are good news for Scotland’s development sector..."



Here is the first, of I am sure, many views that will be presented during the consultation period on both Scottish Planning Policy and the Draft Third National Planning Framework.

Extract below is from this article here


'...By publishing the first review of the Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) and a draft Main Issues Report to support the preparation of a new National Planning Framework (NPF3), the government appears keen to review planning in a way that better reflects the transformation of the Scottish economy over the past three years since the SPP was first prepared. Overall, it’s good news for the development sector on a number of fronts.

The document definitely does not maintain the status quo, and instead brings about some important changes that will affect developers and planning authorities alike. For developers though, perhaps the most important change is the decision to attach significant weight to the economic benefits of development in all applications.'


'...The revised policies place an emphasis on sustainable economic growth, emphasising that the right development in the right place, streamlining some areas of policy, and providing a more considered approach for others. These changes are good news for Scotland’s development sector and will help encourage movement in an area critical to its economy. The latest GDP figures show construction grew by 0.6 per cent following a period of contraction in previous quarters, demonstrating its inextricable link and relationship with the wider economy. 

It goes without saying that, during these tough economic times, any stimulus is to be welcomed. The opportunity is open to all stakeholders to have their say, with the consultation on both documents running until 23 July 2013. 

ENDS