Claim John Swinney stayed at Peter Mandelson's residence is Mostly True
The first minister has been criticised online for staying with Mandelson on a trip to the US last year. We looked at the truth behind the claims.
Planning Democracy
13 articles
Council to urge Scottish Government to boost community planning appeal rights
Edinburgh councillors have voted unanimously to give local communities more power to appeal planning decisions – a move campaigners argue would
Scottish Government overturned 4 in 10 planning appeals last year
The Scottish Government has been accused of “stripping powers away” from councils after overturning four in ten planning decisions that
Scottish Government under fire for overruling council decisions to reject new fish farms
Council decisions to reject new fish farms in protected beauty spots were overruled by the Scottish Government after appeals by
Experts voice fears over plans for lorry park on Jacobite battlefield
Jacobite experts have warned against a developer’s plans to build a lorry park on the site of a 1715
Council left with legal bill after locals overturn planning decision
A charity has raised serious questions about Scotland’s planning system after Conservative councillors in Stirling backed a development against
Scotland’s public land sold off to luxury property developers
Scotland’s public land is being sold off to housing developers building luxury homes and sidelining local people, The Ferret
‘Green’ housing project row over destruction of woodland
An exclusive private housing development backed financially by a government “green” fund has been criticised for destroying “cherished woodland” and
Covid-19 planning laws ‘captured’ by property developers
Rule changes during the Covid-19 pandemic favour property developers and risk shutting the public out from the planning system, according
1p per person: how local democracy is being ‘systematically eroded’
A survey of the funding of every community council in Scotland has sparked claims that the bodies are being systematically
Bid for more power for communities fighting developers
Scottish ministers are coming under concerted pressure to give communities across Scotland stronger rights to resist property developers proposing controversial
Scottish ministers rapped for failing on community rights
Scotland is facing a reprimand at a United Nations (UN) summit for failing to give communities rights to fight damaging
Critics allege ‘serious irregularities’ with film studio application
Campaigners have called on the Scottish Government to reject a proposal for a major project near Edinburgh – including a film