Revised timetable for ambitious plan for future growth

The report, which will be public on Thursday, 4 March, will say that the proposed plan will now be considered by councillors in the summer with the preference being for a committee in August.

The proposed plan was due to be considered by the Planning Committee this month but Scottish Environment Protection Agency was subject to a significant cyberattack just before Christmas which is still affecting its services. This is having an impact on work on the Strategic Flood Risk Assessment required for the proposed plan as well as many other matters.

The proposed plan was originally due to be considered by councillors in December but disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic has led to some technical reports not being fully completed. 

Cllr Neil Gardiner, Planning Convener, said:

The proposed plan will be ambitious and will help us build a more sustainable future as the Capital grows in the coming years. When complete, the proposed plan needs to be robust and not open to challenge on the credibility of the flood risk evidence, which is why we need to postpone its completion.

I have every sympathy with SEPA and the challenges they are experiencing as a result of this incident and appreciate they are rightly focusing at the moment on immediate risks of flooding or significant breaches of the other regulatory responsibilities they have.

Background

*    Following the 'Choices' consultation last year, when the proposed plan is agreed, the next stage will be the 'Period of Representations' which will give a further opportunity for comments to be made on the plan.
*    How we engage with interested groups and members of the public will be determined by the coronavirus government guidance at the time.
*    As well as a comprehensive digital plan, we will make every effort to engage with those who don't have access to or prefer not to use digital channels.
*    Further details on this will be published at the time.