Building standards portal joins online planning service with forecast of major savings for government and industry
The Scottish Government has set up a portal for building warrant applications and completion certificates with a forecast that it could provide savings of more than £73 million over the next five years.
Named eBuildingStandards.scot, the portal went live late last month, joining the ePlanning.scot service that was launched last January.
It makes it possible for builders to make electronic submissions to local authorities of warrant applications and completion certificates, pay the associated feeds, and submit digital copies of any supporting documentation.
Users can register through the eDevelopment.scot service and there is a joint log-in page for eBuildingStandards and ePlanning.scot.
Collaboration and savings
The Scottish Government said the new portal provides the scope for collaboration in developing applications online, and can provide an average saving of £280 for each building warrant application.
Cumulatively, this can combine with the potential of ePlanning.scot to provide public authorities and builders with the total £73 million in savings.
Minister for Local Government and Housing, Kevin Stewart (pictured), said: “The drive to expand to eBuildingStandards came from customer feedback. We listened and responded to this and will continue to do so. This is our second eDevelopment service, following on from launch of the refreshed ePlanning service earlier this year.
“The new service went live as planned, and has already been a clear hit with customers. In its first week, over 500 applications were submitted – exceeding our predictions.”
He added that the service has been developed as a collaboration between Scotland’s central and local authorities, and that they are aiming to develop more services over the coming months.
ePlanning.scot replaced the older ePlanning service and has so far accounted for 74% of applications and appeals.
Image from Scottish Government
