WARNING - By their nature, text files cannot include scanned images and tables. The process of converting documents to text only, can cause formatting changes and misinterpretation of the contents can sometimes result. Wherever possible you should refer to the pdf version of this document. CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY Paper 2 12 December 2008 CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY FOR DECISION Title: Sustainable Design Guide Prepared by: Alison Lax Local Plan / Policy Officer Purpose Following initial consideration at the meeting in Kingussie on 14 November, this revised report is to formally seek the Planning Committee’s agreement to the purpose, scope and principles of the sustainable design guide. Recommendation That Members of the Planning Committee approve the purpose, principles and audience of the Sustainable Design Guide. Background 1. The Sustainable Design Guide is one of the pieces of supplementary planning guidance that will be produced to support the policies included in the Local Plan. The importance of sustainable design has been fully endorsed by Scottish Government and reflected in various SPPs and PANs. The Park Authority has a commitment to make a positive contribution to climate change. The full list of the guidance to be produced was agreed at the Board meeting on 31 October 2008. 2. Work has been progressing gradually on the design guide for some time now. The latest element of this was the joint members / staff workshop that was held on 22/23 October. The event was well attended by both members and staff and focused on addressing the key issues relating to the design guide, namely, how it will be Cairngorms specific, how it will relate to the plethora of guidance on sustainable design that already exists and which can be utilised, and who the primary audiences will be. 3. On the basis of discussion at the workshop it is proposed that the guide is prepared in line with the following parameters. Purpose The purpose of the Sustainable Design Guide is to amplify and illustrate the principles set out in the Local Plan. Primarily it is to support policy 18 in the Local Plan which sets out the Sustainable Design basis for all new development in the Cairngorms National Park and to provide guidance and advice when planning for development . It is to be used in association with other Local Plan supplementary guidance and will signpost users to other external sources of information and advice where appropriate. Principles The Guide should be: • Cairngorms Specific o The Guide will deal with issues that are relevant to the particular requirements of the Cairngorms National Park. It will not pick up on general issues where information is already available elsewhere. It is intended to fill a gap that exists in existing guidance on sustainable design. It will be a guide that truly makes a difference. • Concise o The Guide will be as concise as possible, and will not repeat information that is available elsewhere, but instead will signpost the users to these sources. • Customer focused o The Guide will be targeted at its primary audience, and will be helpful and encouraging in style and tone to help people deliver the best outcome for the Park and assist applications though the planning process as efficiently as possible. • Outcome focused o The Guide will be focused on what needs to be achieved to meet the vision in Park Plan and Local Plan and should have an underlying emphasis on pragmatic elements in order to convey the message that sustainable design is both achievable and worthwhile. • Have a Robust Status o The guide will be used as an important material consideration in planning matters. Having been developed through due process it will carry considerable weight and will be defendable as a decision making tool. The advice contained in guide will also be relevant to developments that do not require planning approval. • A Guide that truly makes a difference o The Guide should be developed so that it can be used to support the relevant policy in the Local Plan to make a real difference, In particular, the combination of helpful text in the main body of the Guide, and the checklist to be submitted with each application, will act as in a mutually reinforcing way to encourage more sustainable forms of development. Customers • Primary Audience is people who are considering developing in the National Park • The guide will be there to assist professionals and lay people alike. • It will highlight the issues everyone should be considering when planning a development, and could be used by either individuals when speaking to architects, or by the architects themselves. The guide will be produced by the National Park Authority, in conjunction with our partners to make the most of the expertise in this area, and it will be owned and delivered by everyone with an interest in development in the National Park. Timetable The timetable for the production of the sustainable design guide is moving apace, and the programme of work for the coming months is set out in Annex 1. Alison Lax Local Plan / Policy Officer 2 December 2008 Annex 1 Outputs and Related Activities Year2008 Oct Nov Dec Year 2009 Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec hold internal workshop - 22-23 October project team agreement of action plan - 31 October planning committee agreement of action plan / principles etc - 14 November draft design guide - October / November / December informal board discussion of draft guide - February 2009 further revisions to guide - February 2009 board approval of guide for public consultation - 20 Mar 2009 local plan inquiry discussions of Policy 18 - April 2009 public consultation on draft SDG - May / June 2009 board consideration of consultation responses - 10 July 2009 revisions made to SDG - July / August 2009 SDG adopted by board - 30 Sept 2009 publication of final SDG - September 2009