Rethink urged on fire hydrant building laws

The council's planning chairman is to challenge new building legislation

THE Highland Council’s planning chairman has called for an urgent review of a new building law which he believes is stymying rural housing development.

A new mandatory building standard now requires every new house to have a water supply for fire fighting, increasing construction costs for people building their own homes. Previously domestic buildings were exempt from complying with this standard.

Councillor Ian Ross, who chairs the council’s planning and development committee, said: "There has been no consultation with local authorities over this change and while no one wants to be complacent about the risk of fire, we also need to ensure that people looking to build their homes in rural locations are not burdened with onerous costs.

"Due to the geography of our area this issue is important as it impacts on so many people at a time when we are actively promoting development in the countryside through our Development Plan.

"At our recent committee meeting, members expressed very strong feelings that the enforcement of this standard effectively opposes our Development Plan and is causing anxiety to our customers.

"We are calling for an urgent review. I have written to the Minister for Local Government and asking for investigations to be undertaken to justify this new requirement being implemented in what is the largest Local Authority in geographical terms in Scotland.

"I have also asked for the Government to issue a Ministerial Direction until such time as the consultation with the Fire Authorities is complete and a practical solution published reinstating the previous mandatory standard that will allow for the exclusion of dwelling houses."

The issue has already been raised with COSLA and other rural Local Authorities and discussions are taking place with the Highland Fire and Rescue Service.