Scottish Liberal Democrats back calls for more homes to be built around stations

At their conference in Edinburgh this weekend, Scottish Liberal Democrats have backed proposals for the SNP government to establish Station Growth Zones, which would allow more housing to be built near railway stations, subway stations, tram stops and other major public transport interchanges.

Housing in a Station Growth Zone is typically built in an 800-metre radius, or around a 10-minute walk, from transport stations.

Specifically, Scottish Liberal Democrats have backed calls for the Scottish Government to:

• Establish Station Growth Zones around qualifying railway stations, subway stations, tram stops and other major public transport interchanges.
• Define these zones as covering, by default, all land within approximately 800 metres' walking distance of the station entrance.
• Amend national planning policy so that there is a strong statutory presumption in favour of higher density residential and mixed-use development within Station Growth Zones.
• Publish a national programme identifying a publicly owned land suitable for station-led housing development.

Scottish Liberal Democrat housing spokesperson Morven-May MacCallum MSP said:

Building more homes within walking distance of high-quality public transport is a win-win for everyone.

It reduces dependence on private cars, supports town and city centres, improves the viability of public transport and helps us meet our climate objectives.

The success of these plans has been demonstrated in other countries in Europe and Asia, where they have led to stronger local economies and public transport systems.

It's an example of practical and sensible action that the SNP can take right now, with the powers they have, to tackle the housing crisis and boost our economy."

ENDS

Notes to editors:

The full conference motion is as follows:

PC1: Homes Around Stations Unlocking Sustainable Growth

Submitted by member signatories

Mover: Andy Williamson

Summator: Jack Clark

Conference notes that:

1. Scotland faces an acute housing shortage, with too few homes being built in the places where people most want and need to live.

2. Housing shortages contribute to rising living costs, labour market constraints, slower economic growth and increased inequality. This makes it harder for young people to remain in the communities in which they have grown up.

3. Scotland has made substantial public investment in its rail network, stations and public transport infrastructure, yet much of the land surrounding stations remains occupied by surface car parks, vacant sites, low-density development or other underused land.

4. Building more homes within walking distance of high-quality public transport reduces dependence on private cars, supports town and city centres, improves the viability of public transport, and helps Scotland meet its climate objectives.

5. This has been demonstrated in other countries in Europe and Asia, leading to stronger local economies and more successful public transport systems.

6. The current planning system often makes well-designed, sustainable development around transport hubs slow, uncertain and expensive, discouraging investment and reducing housing supply.

Conference believes that:

1. The best place to accommodate much of Scotland's future housing growth is around existing public transport infrastructure, where residents can easily access employment, education and services without relying on private cars.

2. The planning system should provide certainty by establishing clear rules in advance, allowing developments that comply with agreed standards to proceed quickly.

3. Local communities should retain a strong voice in shaping the character of development through local design codes, rather than repeatedly debating the principle of development on individual planning applications.

Conference therefore calls on the Scottish Government to establish Station Growth Zones around qualifying railway stations, subway stations, tram stops and other major public transport interchanges, and:

1. Establish criteria for qualification based on service frequency and connectivity to employment, education and services.

2. Define these zones as covering, by default, all land within approximately 800 metres' walking distance of the station entrance, with local authorities able to extend boundaries to include additional areas with a clear functional connection to the station.

3. Permit the default boundary of these zones to be reduced only where physical barriers make land inaccessible from the station.

4. Amend national planning policy such that there is a strong statutory presumption in favour of higher-density residential and mixed-use development within Station Growth Zones, with planning permission normally being granted unless narrowly defined statutory grounds for refusal apply.

5. Establish national standards that require Station Growth Zone design codes to:

a. enable a substantial increase in housing capacity and density in comparison with existing development patterns.

b. be prepared such that they set out clear and objective standards for development, to be determined by planning authorities only after sufficient consultation with local communities.

6. Ensure that development complying with all standards adopted for these zones benefits from a significantly streamlined planning process.

7. Publish a national programme identifying publicly owned land suitable for station-led housing development, working with Transport Scotland, ScotRail, Network Rail, local authorities and other public landowners to bring forward sites for development.

8. Regularly review the performance of Station Growth Zones, identifying and addressing barriers preventing housing development from coming forward.