Thank you, convener, and good morning. The Planning (Scotland) Bill is just one element, but a vital one, of a full programme of review of the planning system. The bill’s content and our intentions for the review as a whole are rooted in the findings and recommendations of an independent panel that was made up of users of the planning system.
There have been a number of drivers for the planning review from the beginning: the need to deliver more housing, the need to improve the experience and influence of our communities, the effectiveness of development planning and leading positive change in our places, the need for more proactive management of development, and the need for strong leadership and better management of skills and resources. We have maintained our focus on all those drivers throughout, and we are taking forward the vast majority of the panel’s recommendations.
We are not starting from scratch. Much of the existing planning system will remain—for example, there will be a continuing requirement for development planning to contribute to the principles of sustainable development. However, we are proposing changes that will radically reform how planning is done. The bill is certainly more than just tinkering—it will lead an essential shift in our planning services away from a largely regulatory function, and it will strip back unnecessary process to facilitate delivery of good-quality development and the great places that our communities deserve. For example, our reforms for development planning will create greater clarity for all about the future direction of development and will free planners and stakeholders from the continuous cycle of plan writing, which will enable them to work together on plan delivery.
The bill pursues a continued drive for better up-front collaboration involving people from the outset in the choices that need to be made about future development. Local place plans will give people a greater opportunity to come together to discuss, consider and express their aspirations, and a chance to have real influence over the future of their places.
I accept that there are mixed views about appeal rights. I have considered the issues and I agree entirely with the independent panel: stronger community engagement at an early stage is much more constructive than adversarial appeals at the end. I want our reforms to remove conflict, mistrust and tactics from the system: better early collaboration by everyone is the way to go.
Scotland needs investment in good development for our communities, and our planning system should, of course, facilitate that. The bill should not bring further complexity, process and uncertainty to people who may want to invest in Scotland. The reforms must lead to improved performance and to a more positive, proactive and confident planning system. Our proposals for increased resources, skills development and performance improvement will bring a supportive approach, which will encourage the whole planning service to function well.
Although the legislation focuses on process, following on from the bill we will also progress work on national planning framework 4, which will incorporate Scottish planning policy. That will involve further collaboration on and scrutiny of important priorities in national planning policy.
I hope that that provides a useful context to inform our discussion today. I am looking forward to discussing the bill with members and to answering your questions.