East Lothian Council has introduced new guidelines that will make it more difficult for developers to overturn planning refusals…
Scottish local authority East Lothian Council has brought in new guidelines aimed at protecting communities from “inappropriate” housing plans.
Interim draft guidelines were suggested by planning officials to prevent unsuitable land from development while the council continues to produce its draft Local Development Plan.
The council’s head of planning Iain McFarlane said the guidelines would “add weight” to appeals to the Scottish government and could help reduce the number of local authority decisions overturned by Holyrood.
However, McFarlane admitted it would be difficult to stop Scottish government reporters from simply overlooking the guidance.
Speaking to the East Lothian Courier, he said: “Reporters are a strange breed. We can never guarantee that there is something in the document which will stop every decision but if we see it as inappropriate we can raise our concerns.”
Cabinet spokesman for housing and the environment Councillor Norman Hampshire said it was unfortunate guidelines were needed.
He said: “The council does not have the power to make plans effective for housing, it is down to developers.
“We need to have not just the power to identify sites but to make sure these sites become effective with infrastructure.”