Placing Culture in Planning

‘Cultural’ is referenced in the new Planning (Scotland) Bill. Included in the final Bill are five key references to culture which are designed to support communities to protect their cultural assets, to acknowledge rights and promote the allocation of land in the public interest and for the common good.  

Planning (Scotland) Bill was passed by Scottish Parliament on Thursday 20 June. Photo by Donald Edgar on Unsplash

Cultural Counts members and supporters have been following the Planning (Scotland) Bill since December 2017. The collaboration of many organisations to discuss issues and share information has undoubtedly produced a better Bill for our sector.

Jennifer Hunter, Culture Counts, said; “The Planning (Scotland) Bill has recognised the cultural sector and its value to communities in Scotland. We’re pleased that politicians and civil servants understand the wider importance of the protection of culture; due to well-known benefits that span across health & social care(1), education(2) and the economy(3). Culture Counts follows and welcomes the trend in social prescribing by the NHS in Scotland and consideration in planning can only strengthen the sectors ability to be able to provide services, improve wellness, enjoyment, hope and inspiration.”

Sources in Jennifer’s Quote

1 Arts therapies reduce the physical and emotional suffering of people with cancer, and the side effects of their treatment. http://www.artshealthandwellbeing.org.uk/appg-inquiry/Publications/Creative_Health_Inquiry_Report_2017.pdf

2 Musical activity can help children with additional support needs improve motor skills and co-ordination. https://www.creativescotland.com/resources/professional-resources/research/creative-scotland-research/evaluation-of-youth-music-initiative

3 The creative industries in Scotland contribute £4.6 billion to the economy. https://www.creativescotland.com/what-we-do/creativity-matters

References to Culture in The Bill

Reference 1
Page 4, Line 38,
The National Planning Framework:
(1) For the purposes of assisting the Scottish Ministers in preparing or revising the National Planning Framework
(2) The matters are—
(a) the principal physical, cultural, economic, social, built heritage and environmental characteristics of the area,

Reference 2
Page 11, Line 19
The Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 is amended as follows:
(iii) in paragraph (a), after “physical,” insert “cultural,”,

Reference 3
Page 11, Line 36
The Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 is amended as follows:
(v) after paragraph (c) insert—
(ch) the desirability of maintaining an appropriate number and range of cultural venues and facilities (including in particular, but not limited to, live music venues) in the district,”

Reference 4 (Agent of Change)
Page 43, Line 8
Conditional grant of planning permission: noise-sensitive developments:
Without prejudice to the generality of section 41(1), a planning authority—
(a) must, when considering under section 37 whether to grant planning permission for a noise-sensitive development subject to conditions, take 5 particular account of whether the development includes sufficient measures to mitigate, minimise or manage the effect of noise between the development and any existing cultural venues or facilities (including in particular, but not limited to, live music venues), or dwellings or businesses in the vicinity of the development, and
(b) may not, as a condition of granting planning permission for a noise-sensitive development, impose on a noise source additional costs relating to acoustic design measures to mitigate, minimise or manage the effects of noise.”.

Reference 5
Page 68, Line 11
Forestry and Woodland Strategy:
(a) Identify woodlands of high nature conservation value in the planning authority’s area, and
(b) Set out the planning authority’s policies and proposals in their area, as to—
(iv) the expansion of woodlands of a range of types to provide multiple 10 benefits to the physical, cultural, economic, social and environmental characteristics of the area.