Pandas can’t bear building site noise
SNP threatens to call in plan for homes over risk to zoo’s star attraction
THE planning application may have appeared to be black and white, but it has become mired in controversy thanks to two of Scotland’s best-known visitors.
In what is surely a first for a planning department, a building application could be called in by the Scottish Government because of its potential impact on pandas.
While building plans are usually derailed by such issues as their height or because they are not in keeping with the area, the health of Edinburgh Zoo’s bears is behind the latest concerns.
Tian Tian and Yang Guang have been on loan to Scotland from China since December 2011 and fears have been expressed that a planned neighbouring housing development could affect the animals during construction.
Ministers have written to City of Edinburgh Council directing it to notify the Government if permission is granted for the 78-home redevelopment of Corstorphine Hospital in the capital.
Once this is done ministers can decide whether or not to take the decision out of the local authority’s hands.
The letter states this is due to issues of ‘national importance’ which include ‘possible negative health impacts for giant pandas at Edinburgh Zoo during construction’.
It continues: ‘This direction does not commit ministers to calling in any such application but it does reserve their right to intervene.’
Labour has criticised the move and linked it to the calling in of a planning application for a Chinese-backed offshore wind farm development in East Lothian.
However, the Government has insisted the calling in procedure is not connected to the First Minister’s meeting with the parent firm during her visit to China last week.
Scottish Labour communities spokesman Monica Lenold non said: ‘The Scottish Government appears to be developing a habit of interfering in local democratic planning decisions, especially when Chinese interests are involved.
‘Last week we discovered ministers had called in a planning application for the Cockenzie power plant, before East Lothian Council had even had a chance to consider it, and on the very day the First Minister met with the Chinese company behind the application.
‘Now they are putting Edinburgh city council on notice that its decision on a site next to Edinburgh Zoo is being watched because it might affect the Chinese pandas.
‘The Scottish Government should let planning committees get on with their job and stop undermining the role of councils and local democracy.’
Miss Lennon also called for an urgent parliamentary statement on the East Lothian decision.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘Ministers have issued the direction in view of concerns relating to the potential impact of the proposed development.
‘These include possible negative health impacts for giant pandas at Edinburgh Zoo during construction, as raised in representations by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland.
‘As the applications for both planning consent and listed building consent remain live, the Scottish Government is unable to comment further at this time.’
Last month it emerged that Edinburgh Zoo had drafted in a world expert as part of its efforts to produce a cub from the giant pandas.
Dr Eveline Dungl helped Tiergarten Schönbrunn – Vienna Zoo – to produce five cubs by means of natural breeding.
‘Undermining role of councils’