Three new planning documents - same old issues!

 EXCLUSIVE by EWAN LAMB

The publication of two so-called Spatial Strategies for areas of southern Scotland together with a new Local Development Plan [LDP] for the Scottish Borders will require hundreds of millions of pounds of investment funding if the proposals they espouse are to mean anything.

There is an admission in one of the weighty documents - the South-east Scotland Indicative Regional Spatial Strategy (IRSS) - that not all areas of the vast city region centred on Edinburgh have shared in the growth of productivity levels typical of other parts of the territory. The Borders and Mid Fife are identified as having missed out.

Scottish Borders Council's 'membership' of two separate regions - the south-east encompassing six council areas and south of Scotland in partnership with Dumfries & Galloway - means two sets of development projects need to be considered and funded.

Members of the Borders local authority have been allocated an estimated 40 minutes to consider the entire collection of planning documents, including the proposed LDP, when they meet remotely on Friday. The papers and appendices for the LDP alone run to hundreds of pages,

The south-east IRSS, dominated by Scotland's capital city, states: "A fundamental strategic aim is to ensure that the economic benefits of the city region are distributed more effectively across the city region’s more deprived urban communities and rural hinterland. The rural economy is also very important to the region and will be allowed to diversify in an appropriate manner with particular emphasis being of support in a post Brexit era.

"In rural areas, the authorities will support further appropriate agricultural diversification, which will be required as a counter to likely Brexit issues. Equally, there will be support for the promotion of tree planting and food production both as a rural industry and due to its positive contribution to tackling climate change.

"For Borders forestry opportunities may come through the SOSE (South of Scotland Enterprise) / Borderlands funding opportunities, which will be developed in conjunction with Dumfries and Galloway Council, Carlisle City, Cumbria and Northumberland Councils. Tourism will be one key area that can be encouraged although the impact on local housing and community will need to be carefully managed."

In a section covering transport (or connectivity to use the current planning jargon) the report explains: "The Edinburgh Forth coast, the west of East Lothian and mid Fife/Levenmouth and parts of the Scottish Borders are particular cases with poor connectivity to the area’s economy. Connectivity is both about transport infrastructure and strong connections between communities and settlements to ensure there are no barriers to participation. 

"An extended Borders railway line and a link to the West Coast Main Line would create stronger links with Dumfries and Galloway across east and west of South Scotland and to Ireland as well as the more urbanised northern parts of the region. Key infrastructure links between deprived areas to the wider region are already planned.

"Improved connectivity within the region is vital, including North-South transport links such as the full dualling of the A1, A68 and A7 Trunk Road networks. Improved linkages to the North east of England can bring a great deal of economic opportunity. Cross border liaison with proposals in Northern England is essential to ensure coordinated action. East-West links which are currently poor will also require significant investment."

Those poor east-west links across Borders and Dumfries & Galloway were identified more than half a century ago, but little has been done to improve the situation. It must be doubtful whether this particular ambition will feature high up on development agendas in the future.

Meanwhile the South of Scotland IRSS includes a wish list of more than 30 major schemes scattered across the vast land mass that makes up Scottish Borders and Dumfries & Galloway.

This report makes the following statement at the outset: "Through this document, we articulate a number of shared outcomes and strategic development projects we wish to see achieved and delivered in our region by 2050 which will respond to the climate change emergency, secure sustainability in our energy supplies and land use practices; deliver an inclusive economy; bring meaningful improvements to the health and wellbeing of all of our citizens; facilitate the responsible management of our high quality landscape and heritage resources; and deliver optimum connectivity to, from and throughout our region."

According to the report's authors the Covid-19 pandemic will be a game changer. The IRSS warns: "The impact of the coronavirus pandemic is a stark reminder of the potential for radical change in even a matter of months. It is liable to impact on us all, and potentially for decades to come. We must plan to address the challenges and opportunities as we now find them. We need to adapt in recognition of the strong likelihood that we face a challenge which is qualitatively and quantitatively of a different order from any that we have encountered previously."

Among the Borders projects outlined are:

A by-pass for Selkirk (another very old idea) – “The support of the Scottish Government would be required to deliver any such road network upgrade.”

Improved east-west road links between Borders and Dumfries & Galloway: “Existing east-west road connections between Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders are poor along the A708 & B7068, consisting of single track sections, substandard alignments and narrow bridges. There is a need to undertake road capacity enhancements in order to improve the local road network resulting in better links to the strategic road network and services.”

New bridge at Peebles: “development opportunities are limited due to a number of factors including the limitations of the existing Tweed bridge to accommodate more traffic which would allow new development on land on the southern side of the river. A number of locations for a new bridge have been examined and a feasibility study will be required as well as funding measures put in place to ensure its construction. The Scottish Borders Local Development Plan (LDP) does not support nor allocate any new land for development on the southern side of the river until a new bridge is built.”