S2W-02140: Whether the City of Edinburgh Council and Midlothian Council will be required to prove that all other options, such as the redevelopment of…

The question

To ask the Scottish Executive whether the City of Edinburgh Council and Midlothian Council will be required to prove that all other options, such as the redevelopment of the existing ground and development opportunities within urban areas or on vacant, derelict or underused land, have been considered before granting approval for a football stadium in the green belt, as laid out in National Planning Policy Guideline 11, Sport, Physical Recreation and Open Space.

The answer

Answered by Mary Mulligan on 19 Sep 2003 · 28 days after it was lodged, on time

Planningdecisions are required to be taken in accordance with the development planunless material considerations indicate otherwise. Scottish Executive planning policies contained incirculars, National Planning Policy Guidelines and Scottish planning policiesmay be such material considerations.
Paragraph 73 of NationalPlanning Policy Guideline 11, Sport, Physical Recreation and Open Space,relates to a proposal for a stadium in the green belt. It notes that anyproposal for such a stadium could be considered alongside any proposal foradjustment of green belt boundaries. Such boundaries should be altered only inexceptional circumstances after consideration of all other options, such asredevelopment of the existing ground, development opportunities within urbanareas, or on vacant, derelict or underused land.

In the Official Report

No contribution in the Official Report cites S2W-02140 by reference.