MSPS criticise planning shake-up

A shake-up of planning law does not go far enough to tackle community frustrations with the system, a Holyrood committee has said.

MSPS on the Local Government and Communities Committee said they were “not persuaded” that measures put forward by the Scottish Government will do enough to tackle this.

In their report on the Planning (Scotland) Bill they called for changes to be made so appeals against planning decisions can only be permitted in “certain circumstances”.

Committee convener Bob Doris said communities wanted to have a “meaningful say” on the area where they live.

Tory MSP Graham Simpson also branded the Bill a “missed opportunity to put communities at the heart of the planning system while delivering more housing and protecting green spaces”.

But he went on to claim the legislation was a “sinister power grab” by Scottish ministers.

MSPS also called for the socalled “agent of change principle”,whichisalreadybacked by the Scottish Government, to be broadened and specifically included in the legislation.