SPP and Local Authorities

So the SG published its interim "Fourth National Planning Framework: position statement" back in November - https://www.gov.scot/publications/scotlands-fourth-national-planning-framework-position-statement/pages/1/ . I searched the document for the words "hut" or "hutting" and drew a complete blank on both counts. So, if you have a Council that doesn't recognise the planning merits of huts for recreation/ leisure/ wellbeing etc it looks like NPF4 itself will change nothing. Whilst there may be opportunities to input further ideas (both now and following a "fuller consultation daft" planned for the autumn), they are clear that "there will be no need to restate points made through the Call for Ideas process" .

But wouldn't it be great if the associated Scottish Planning Policy refresh that eventually follows NPF4 surprised us all by picking up on comments already submitted, and promoted a national planning policy for huts framed in a manner that Councils would have to recognise!

If you can, please put in a short submission and say why you think huts are important. The campaign has already submitted.

https://blogs.gov.scot/planning-architecture/2020/03/19/national-planning-framework-4-extension-to-call-for-ideas-deadline/

I have just sent my submission to the NPF4 Call for Ideas. It's solely concerned with hutting, and is attached in case anyone might find any of the content of use.

Thanks Gavin. The Thousand Huts campaign will be making a submission and will take these points into account. We would encourage as many people as possible to make submissions and keep the ball rolling.

To answer the original question, current Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-planning-policy/ (Paragraph 79.) says, "Plans should set out a spatial strategy which:

- where appropriate, sets out policies and proposals for leisure accommodation, such as holiday units, caravans and huts;"

By including the words "where appropriate", this leaves the door open for planning authorities to consider it "not appropriate" and take no action. One simple remedy would be to suggest that "where appropriate" is removed. This places emphasis on plans that should set out policies and proposals for huts etc. In my view, it cannot be argued that it might not be appropriate for all authorities to prepare these policies as Paragraph 79. appears in the section entitled "Promoting Rural Development", so it doesn't relate to urban planning authorities.

If you are making a submission to the call for ideas, it is always good to frame your suggestions with positive reasons for doing so, as I see some of you are already doing. Anyone with experience of not getting permission for a site due to the lack of a specific policy should also include this in a submission, as this can demonstrate a need for change. We will put something in from SLE on this and I'd be happy to share with others nearer the deadline.

This is the programme for the NPF4 roadshow events: https://www.transformingplanning.scot/national-planning-framework/get-involved/

Thanks. I've written an e-mail to the Call for Ideas mailbox setting out my views on the need to ensure local authority planning recognises the need for a positive approach to increasing provision of hutting. I've written it from my perspective as a Scout Leader where my young people become 'different people' when they've had 24 hours in a woodland. Every little counts.

The Scottish Government is doing NPF4 consultation roadshows round the country at present. I'm going to one in Hawick on Tuesday afternoon. It's a great opportunity to get huts given some prominence.

I think it's very important that as many folk as possible contribute to the NPF4 "call for ideas" with comments on mainstreaming hutting within planning - https://www.transformingplanning.scot/national-planning-framework/get-involved/

Having the new NPF4 / its associated Scottish Planning Policy with a robust line on permitting hutting developments as a sustainable development, even when not mentioned in local plans or policies, is the only hope in the likes of Perth & Kinross (where the Council's shiny new Nov 2019 Local Development Plan 2 fails event to mention huts, far less provide planning staff with any guidance). I certainly intend submitting something.

Thanks very much for your question - I've just put a call out to the planners we work with to try to encourage them to lend their expertise to this discussion. Current situation is that huts were first included in Scottish Planning Policy in 2014, but most local authorities have not yet made their own policy for dealing with hut planning applications, so there is an extremely variable response. Many planning authorities seem to confuse huts with caravans or holiday homes or even dwellings. It's important a distinction is made and the low impact nature of hutting is emphasised and promoted. Now we have an opportunity to influence the current review of the National Planning Framework and then the next Scottish Planning Policy. We do need a bit of advice and guidance about how best to enshrine the essence of hutting into the new vision for planning in rural areas in Scotland.