1 Policy Context
Every development takes place within the context of client priorities, and local and national legislation. This includes - but is not limited to - planning policy, building regulation, and fire officer requirements; the sustainable development of an historic building should be framed within the wider economic and social context.
At times the client's aspirations may have to be modified in order to comply with legislation, and/or a solution found which reconciles conflicting requirements of different regulations. A feasibility study should take account of the following documents:
National Policy
(These links open in a new window)
- Meeting the Needs: priorities, actions and targets for sustainable development in Scotland
- A Spatial Planning Framework for Scotland (April 2004)
- Designing Places: a policy statement for Scotland
- SPP 1: The Planning System (Nov 2002)
- NPPG 18: Planning and the Historic Environment (April 1999)
- PAN 71: Conservation Area Management (Dec 2004)
- Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997
Local Priorities
- Structure and local plans
- Designations: Listed Building / Conservation Area
- >> Section 2: Historic Value
- Supplementary Planning Guidance
- Local Design Statements
The Client
- Be aware of the policy context within which the building is set ? this may restrict options for alteration or change of use
- Familiarise yourself with the local priorities listed above: use your local authority's website as a starting point.
- Policy advice is usually freely available from the local planning office, Historic Scotland, and others where appropriate. The consultant team should contribute to interpreting this - for example see:
- >>
3.1 Practicality and Policy - These experts can also advise on the availability of grant funding to contribute to repair costs.
- >> Section 6: Financing
- Know what space and facilities the projected use of a building will require
- >> 4.1.1 Office Scenario)
- In some cases planning constraints may make a proposed use impossible or uneconomic, and it is better to realise this before too much money has been spent.