This Order brings section 16(a) of the Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006 (“the Act”) into force on 1st March 2007 and other provisions listed in the Schedule to the Order on 1st April 2007 either for all purposes or for limited purposes.

The provisions commenced on 1st April 2007 for all purposes are: section 1; subsection (1) (other than paragraph (b) and (4) of section 3; section 4; section 12(a)(iii) and (iv); sections 18 and 27; paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of section 28(1); sections 33 to 49; section 51; section 54(1) and (2), paragraphs (b)(i) and (iii) of section 54(11), paragraphs (d) and (e) of section 54(16); paragraphs (a)(ii) and (iii) of section 54(17) and section 55(1) and (3).

Article 2(3) limits the purposes for which certain provision are commenced on 1st April 2007. Section 50 is commenced to enable regulations to be made or guidance issued. Section 54(17)(a)(i) is commenced for the purpose of inserting new definitions into section 277 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 (c. 8) (“the 1997 Act”). Section 56 and the Schedule are commenced for the purpose of repealing section 263 of and Part 2 of Schedule 18 to the 1997 Act and certain provisions of the Water Services and Water Environment (Scotland) Act 2003.