Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 12 November 2024
12 Nov 2024 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Planning (Housing)
It seems that the minister has been listening to the sector, to an extent, and there is a lot to be welcomed this afternoon. However, although the minister says that our national planning policy on housing is “permissive, not prescriptive”, which is technically correct, I am not quite sure that that sentiment is shared by house builders.
Based on the statistics that were released yesterday and the actions that were outlined in his statement today, when does the Government expect processing times to start to fall for major applications? The processing time is now more than a year, against a 16-week statutory timeframe.
Planning applications for sites with permission that have not been developed cost developers significant sums of money—money that they cannot borrow for. That money generally comes straight out of their cash flow, so it is not in their interest to sit on those permissions. Will the minister commit to an audit of the approvals and the sites that have been zoned for housing in the system on the basis of deliverability and the time that they have had that approval, so that we can get an accurate understanding of the capacity to build the homes that we so desperately need?
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone)
NPA
The next item of business is a ministerial statement by Ivan McKee on Scotland’s planning system—supporting investment and economic growth and delivering qua...
The Minister for Public Finance (Ivan McKee)
SNP
Planning is an essential building block for a successful and growing economy. What we build and where we build it creates the right conditions for economic g...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
The minister will now take questions on the issues that were raised in his statement. I intend to allow around 20 minutes for questions, after which we will ...
Meghan Gallacher (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
I thank the minister for advance sight of his statement; however, it was an admission of defeat. I was hoping for some ground-breaking planning legislation t...
Ivan McKee
SNP
Wow. In asking us to speed up the process, Meghan Gallacher asks us to bring forward more legislation, which would take years and would not add anything to t...
Mark Griffin (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
It seems that the minister has been listening to the sector, to an extent, and there is a lot to be welcomed this afternoon. However, although the minister s...
Ivan McKee
SNP
I welcome the member’s recognition that we have been listening to and engaging closely with the sector. The Government stands ready to work with all parties ...
Emma Roddick (Highlands and Islands) (SNP)
SNP
The minister indicated in his statement that the Scottish Government has already made significant reforms to planning policy. Although Labour down south has ...
Ivan McKee
SNP
As I indicated earlier, we are happy to work with anyone who can help us to move the agenda forward. I am just back from a British-Irish Council meeting las...
Alexander Stewart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
The minister’s statement does not address the impact of the Government’s proposed rent controls between tenancies, which is a policy that continues to be of ...
Ivan McKee
SNP
Mr Stewart might not be aware that, today, we are talking about the planning process and how it can help to support house building. With regard to rent cont...
Christine Grahame (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP)
SNP
Good housing is central to health and wellbeing, but it is difficult in rural areas, such as the Scottish Borders, to have house builders engage in small dev...
Ivan McKee
SNP
Planning Aid Scotland is an excellent organisation that I was not aware of until I became planning minister. I have had a number of meetings and events with ...
Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab)
Lab
The minister is correct to identify the need to bring on more planners to deliver against those targets. However, he knows that the workforce of planners cur...
Ivan McKee
SNP
That is a valid point. One of the things that struck me in my engagement with planning authorities and the planning ecosystem is the demands on planning reso...
Ben Macpherson (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP)
SNP
How will today’s announcements help in areas of rapidly growing populations, for example here in the capital? Will they help to progress the Granton waterfro...
Ivan McKee
SNP
Those are all very good points. We absolutely recognise the points that the member makes about the infrastructure levy. When we considered the issue, we came...
Ariane Burgess (Highlands and Islands) (Green)
Green
I welcome the move to promote the change of use of properties, such as those above shops, to residential use. That measure will support us in creating three ...
Ivan McKee
SNP
I am glad that the member welcomes the focus on change of use. She is right that that can provide additional capacity within the system to bring more homes o...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
I am very keen that all members who have pressed to put a question have an opportunity to do so. I would be grateful for slightly more concise responses, min...
Evelyn Tweed (Stirling) (SNP)
SNP
Today’s statement made reference to potentially expanding permitted development rights, but in England that has led to inappropriate conversions that have of...
Ivan McKee
SNP
The member makes a valid point. We recognise the issue. We are open to considering more development rights, but I know that that can be a blunt instrument an...
Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD)
LD
The minister knows that change is essential, following the housing conference that he and I spoke at recently. It seems sensible to progress a more pragmatic...
Ivan McKee
SNP
It is important to recognise that there is a balance between the need for housing development and the need to ensure that developments are in the right place...
Stuart McMillan (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP)
SNP
There is a need to encourage registered social landlords to build the new properties that are needed and wanted by tenants, including in my Greenock and Inve...
Ivan McKee
SNP
Clearly, that work happens at a local level. Local authorities are the statutory housing authority, with a responsibility for assessing housing requirements ...
Graham Simpson (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
The problem is that council planning departments have been hollowed out for many years. It is a question of funding, but I do not see anything in the stateme...
Ivan McKee
SNP
It is interesting that Graham Simpson asks about the resources going to planning departments. The member who is sitting next to him was complaining just a mi...
Graham Simpson
Con
That was not my question.
Ivan McKee
SNP
—and it is important to recognise—Interruption.