Planning and Inclusive Growth

Part of the debate – in the Scottish Parliament at on 5 December 2017.

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Photo of Kevin Stewart Kevin Stewart Scottish National Party

Yes, I believe that it is possible. Our reforms aim to strengthen planning’s contribution to inclusive economic growth through the delivery of the development that we need and to empower communities. We need an effective planning system that helps to create quality places, with the housing infrastructure and investment that current and future generations need.

Giving people a greater say in how their areas will develop is central to our reforms of the planning system. For example, as I have already said to Pauline McNeill, that link from the local outcome improvement plans to the new local place plans is a huge opportunity for communities and will help communities to meet their aspirations.

Beyond that, this bill will help us to achieve our ambition of 50,000 affordable homes during the course of this session of Parliament. No matter where I have gone in Scotland since I have taken up this post, people have said, “We need more housing here.” We have to get planning right for communities and I think that this bill will do that.