Self build project approved by Holyrood

A disabled man in Scotland can finally make plans for independent living after the Scottish government overturned refusals to build a self-contained flat on his father's land.

Aberdeenshire Council rejected the proposals to create a private space for 26-year-old cerebral palsy sufferer Euain Sutherland twice before his father took the matter further, reports the Press and Journal.

Despite being supported by letters from community members, including one from the council social work department, planners advised the building would breach policy prohibiting construction in the countryside unless there is economic need.

However, government planner Philip Hutchinson said in his decision letter that the need for the bespoke self build project was "absolutely genuine", "exceptional" and "compelling".

A spokesman for Aberdeenshire Council told the newspaper the ruling would be taken into account when dealing with similar applications in the future.

In related news, the Conservative MP for Basingstoke Maria Miller has hit out at changes made by the government to house planning in the area. Ms Miller said that the alterations are ill-advised because money is still needed to ensure the targets already in place are met, reports the Basingstoke Gazette.