3 - Hillington SPZ and MCA Update - AM reviewed
Renfrewshire Council · 5 November 2024
Back to Planning and Climate Change Policy Board — 5 November 2024 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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___________________________________________________________________ To: Planning and Climate Change Policy Board On: 5 November 2024 ___________________________________________________________________ Report by: Chief Executive ___________________________________________________________________ Heading: Hillington Business Park Simplified Planning Zone and Masterplan Consent Areas Update ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1 This report updates Board that the Hillington Park Simplified Planning Zone Scheme came to an end on 1st October 2024 and provides a summary of what was delivered by the scheme during its 10 years of operation. 1.2 The report also updates members on new powers for planning authorities to prepare Masterplan Consent Area schemes which replace Simplified Planning Zones in the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019. ___________________________________________________________________ 2. Recommendations 2.1 It is recommended that the Board: 1) Note that the Hillington Park Simplified Planning Zone Scheme came to an end on 1st October 2024 and that all new development proposals previously permitted by the scheme will now require to be considered through an application for planning permission. 2) Note that the regulations for making Masterplan Consent Area schemes have been laid in the Scottish Parliament and are expected to come into force later this year. _________________________________________________________
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3. Hillington Business Park Simplified Planning Zone 3.1 The first Simplified Planning Zone in Scotland in over 20 years was implemented at Hillington Business Park on the 1st of October 2014 as a joint project between Renfrewshire Council and Glasgow City Council. 3.2 The main aim of the Simplified Planning Zone at Hillington was to attract further investment into the area as well as supporting the existing businesses to grow and expand by streamlining the planning process and removing the need to apply for planning permission for certain types and scales of development. 3.3 The Simplified Planning Zone operated at Hillington Business Park for 10 years and ended on 1st October 2024. 3.4 All new development proposals which were permitted by the Simplified Planning Zone scheme will now require to be considered through an application for planning permission. 3.5 Since its implementation in 2014, the Council has received 41 development notifications under the Simplified Planning Zone, with 6 of these developments not starting before the scheme ended. 3.6 Officers have written to the 6 affected developers to confirm that their development proposal will now require to be considered as part of an application for planning permission should they wish to proceed. 3.7 The Simplified Planning Zone delivered significant new investment into the business park and also supported a number of existing businesses to renovate and expand their existing premises. In Renfrewshire, during its operation the Simplified Planning Zone: ▪ Supported the redevelopment of 18 hectares of land and led to a 50% reduction in the amount of vacant and derelict land in Hillington business park; ▪ Delivered 48,580 square meters of new commercial floorspace. Over 85% of this new floorspace was in general industrial, storage and distribution and business uses, with some motor sales also delivered on the Hillington M8 motorway frontage on the northern fringes of the Park; ▪ Supported existing businesses through the refurbishment and expansion of 13 units including internal and external alterations, the addition of solar panels, and the erection of building extensions; and, ▪ Supported landscaping and signage improvements throughout the business park. ___________________________________________________________________ 4. Masterplan Consent Areas 4.1 The Planning (Scotland) Act 2019 introduced new powers for a planning authority to prepare a Masterplan Consent Area. These are intended to replace Simplified Planning Zones which were discontinued by the 2019 Act.
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4.2 Masterplan Consent Areas are similar to Simplified Planning Zones but refreshed and rebranded with expanded powers. Masterplan Consent Areas are broader in scope, being able to give a range of consents including listed building consent, conservation area consent and roads construction consent rather than just planning permission. 4.2 The final regulations for making Masterplan Consent Area schemes have been laid in the Scottish Parliament and are expected to come into force later this year. 4.3 Schedule 5A of the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019 requires planning authorities to consider whether it would be desirable to make a Masterplan Consent Area scheme for a part or parts of their district. 4.4 In preparing the next Renfrewshire Local Development Plan officers will consider whether a Masterplan Consent Area would be suitable for any part of Renfrewshire and will present any recommendations to the Planning and Climate Change Policy Board for approval in due course. ___________________________________________________________________ Implications of the Report 1. Financial – None. 2. HR & Organisational Development – None. 3. Community/Council Planning – None. 4. Legal – None. 5. Property/Assets – None. 6. Information Technology – None. 7. Equality & Human Rights – None. 8. Health & Safety – None. 9. Procurement – None. 10. Risk – None. 11. Privacy Impact – None. 12. Climate Risk – Not applicable. 13. Children’s Rights – Not applicable. 14. Cosla Policy Position – None ___________________________________________________ List of Background Papers None ___________________________________________________________________ Author: Alan Williamson, Strategy and Place Manager, alan.williamson@renfrewshire.gov.uk, 07811 053968