Question reference: S6W-07162
- Asked by: Dean Lockhart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 10 March 2022
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Current status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 21 March 2022
Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish the consultation on its Phase 2 of permitted development rights; when it expects the new regulations will be in place, and what it can do in the meantime to speed up planning permission for supermarkets and other businesses that wish to install EV chargers for the public that are higher than the current 1.6 metre limit.
Answer
We intend to issue a consultation paper on Phase 2 permitted development rights (PDR), including extensions to existing electric vehicle charging PDR, in the first quarter of 2022-23. The aim is to have resulting legislation in place by the end of the year.
In the meantime, processing of any required planning applications are a matter for individual planning authorities in the first instance. Current Scottish Planning Policy (paragraphs 275 and 289) sets out the need for planning authorities to support EV charging infrastructure in development plans and development management decisions.
The performance and resourcing of the planning system are key priorities; we are progressing a range of improvements through our planning reform programme and working closely with CoSLA, the Royal Town Planning Institute and Heads of Planning Scotland to address issues from resources to capacity and skills.