Grasping the Thistle: The Search for Distinctiveness in the Devolved Scottish Planning System

The expectation of Home Rule for Scotland was well established by the time the people of Scotland voted for a Scottish Parliament in September 1997. The perceived cultural, industrial, historical and economic distinctiveness of Scotland within the UK had already been defined. Legal and juridical systems, already well separated from England and Wales by the time serious constitutional discussions emerged in the late 1980s, intended to push for the creation of a Scottish Parliament. The establishment of Scotland's Parliament in May 1999 signalled the promise of a more democratically legitimate governance north of the border. Planning had separated from the English and Welsh system both legally and in policy format prior to the Parliament being setting up. Over the last 18 months, discussions have been underway as to whether the planning system can be made even more distinctive and what issues require addressing at a national (i.e. all-Scotland level). A degree of optimism exists in Scotland for the future of planning, including determining what similar planning processes should remain in place compared to those south of the border, and what contextual factors need to be considered for planning's future relating to the changing nature of the state, the broadening out of governance, and the emergence of European spatial policy-making. This paper outlines the current form of planning in Scotland, the impact the Scottish Parliament may have over planning, and what initiatives are currently underway to make the planning system more distinctive and inclusive in 21st century Scotland.