Like a Dog Chasing Cars

Man of Action Posted on September 9, 2016 Posted in News

It took over a year of negotiations and design changes, sometimes it felt like a dog chasing cars. However, finally, following the conclusion of a Planning Obligations agreement, approval has been obtained for a new retail/residential development in Armadale. A former car showroom & garaging complex will be demolished to make way for a 388m2 retail unit with parking. The unit is big enough to accommodate a local/metro style supermarket. Above and behind will be 19 flats, with parking and private open space. Pearson Planning, Chartered Surveyors working with Lee Boyd Architects devised the development scheme for a private client.

Edinburgh, 12 November, and Ivan McKee MSP announced to the national assembly that work on introducing a Community Infrstructure Levy in Scotland is “stopped”. Ivan ‘the terrible’ McKee recognised that the Levy was not welcome. There is a general acceptance, too, that much needed house building is being stalled by disproportionate obligation demands, and as Ivan says “unpredictable, costly and lengthy” planning application processes. McKee, branded ‘the terrible’ because of His handling of public finances north of the Cheviots, offers only one solution: higher planning fees! Genius! Increasing (again) authority revenues is not the solution. The vast majority of applications are determined by individual Officers (many of which have no professional qualifications) without the right of appeal. This needs to stop. SNP Government spending for 2023-2024 had a negative fiscal balance of -£22 billion. This must stop.