Highland Council Advice Service Wins Top Scottish Award

24th May 2010

A value added service offered by The Highland Council in partnership with a number of other national agencies including Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Environment Protection Agency and Transport Scotland has received national recognition at the Homes for Scotland Awards 2010.

The Pre-Application Advice Service for Major Developments, a cross Council service led by the Planning and Development Service, received an award in the Key Agency Working category. Organisers of the Awards said that the aim was to demonstrate the further evolution of the development industry's commitment to improvement across the board, and to send out a message that the industry is determined to embrace the many challenges which lie ahead in overcoming the difficulties of the past two years. The Highland Council were the only Scottish Local Authority to be short listed.

The Pre-Application Advice Service helps to make the planning process more efficient by encouraging early and effective consultation which will assist in avoiding some of the difficult situations that may arise during the application process. The service offers advice on a range of issues including transport arrangements, design, sustainability and community engagement.

Central to the provision of the Pre-Application Advice Service is the partnership approach and commitment which helps the Council and its partners to deliver pre-application advice in a consistant and transparent manner to all developers helping to demonstrate the Council's commitment to facilitating growth in the local economy.

The Council was presented with their award at the Homes for Scotland Annual Lunch, held in Edinburgh on Friday 21st May 2010.

Councillor Ian Ross, Chairman of The Highland Council's Planning Environment and Development Committee, added: "We are delighted to have received this prestigious award which reflects the strong and constructive working relationship between the council and its partners since the inception of this service in February 2009. The Pre-Application Advice Service offers a great opportunity for the Council and the development industry to work closely together to help deliver better quality new developments and stengthen our communities."