draft report - Scottish Crofting Federation

4 Planning
The research brief asked the researchers to identify the constraints which are preventing the release of
land under crofting tenure, to relieve housing pressure . Crucial to whether croft land particularly common
grazings land can be used for housing are the planning policies of the planning authorities covering the
crofting counties. These policies interpret national guidance relating to planning to the local circumstances.
This chapter outlines national planning policy in relation to housing in the countryside, rural development
and affordable housing; and the interpretation of national planning policy by the six planning authorities in
the crofting counties
4.1. National Planning Policy
4.1.1. SPP3 Planning for Housing
The main national planning policy relating to housing is SPP3 Planning for Housing, this outlines a general
presumption against housing in the countryside; development is to be restricted to sites within existing
settlements: and ribbon development and settlement coalescence is to be avoided. However in remoter
rural areas policy recognises that new housing outwith settlements may have a part to play in economic
regeneration and environmental renewal. In remote rural areas with substantial long-term depopulation,
proactive planning measures to help increase the resident population could assist economic and social
regeneration. A dispersed settlement pattern is already an established feature of the landscape and
economy in crofting areas. 27
4.1.2. SPP 15 Planning for Rural Development
Building on the provisions of SPP3, SPP 15 Planning for Rural Development, highlights the potential for
more small scale rural housing developments including clusters and groups in close proximity to
settlements stating that there is considerable scope for allowing more housing developments of this
nature 28 .
It goes on to state that some new housing, particularly in the remoter countryside, takes place on land not
identified in local plans and outside settlements where there is reduced pressure on the retention of
woodland and other amenity land. While this can help keep land prices down and allows a wider range of
people to access the market, planning authorities should set out criteria in their plans for the
circumstances where this type of windfall development, outwith the main settlements, is likely to be
acceptable 29
Houses on Crofting Land Rural Housing Service 2007
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