The Scottish Government has placed a ‘Call for Ideas’ to hear about people’s thoughts and priorities for Scotland’s fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4), with the call running until 31 March.
Scottish Government writes:
The National Planning Framework (NPF) is a long term plan for Scotland that sets out where development and infrastructure is needed to support sustainable and inclusive growth.
Background
The current National Planning Framework (NPF3) was published in 2014 and will remain in place until a fourth NPF (NPF4) is adopted by Scottish Ministers.
We have begun the process of reviewing NPF3 and will aim to lay a draft NPF4 in the Scottish Parliament in September 2020. NPF4 will incorporate Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) which contains detailed national policy on a number of planning topics. For the first time, spatial and thematic planning policies will be addressed in one place.
NPF4 will have the status of the development plan for planning purposes. This is a change to the current position and will mean that its policies will have a stronger role in informing day to day decision making.
We expect NPF4 to look very different from NPF3, with a longer time horizon to 2050, fuller regional coverage and improved alignment with wider programmes and strategies, including on infrastructure and economic investment. NPF4 will also take into account regional spatial strategies which will be prepared by local authorities.
Process for developing
Through the period January to March 2020 we will be seeking early views on NPF4 both in terms of the spatial strategy for Scotland and on the more detailed policies on specific topics, currently in the SPP. We then aim to lay a draft in the Scottish Parliament in September 2020. Formal public consultation will run alongside Parliament’s consideration.
Thereafter, we will consider all responses, amend the draft and lay a final version in Parliament. We hope the final version will be laid in 2021. NPF4 will be approved by Parliament before it can be adopted by Scottish Ministers.
This website provides information on the development of NPF4. NPF3 and SPP remain as current policy until final approval of NPF4.
Outcomes
NPF4 will also address the following high level outcomes:
- Meeting the housing needs of people living in Scotland including, in particular, the housing needs for older people and disabled people
- Improving the health and well-being of people living in Scotland
- Increasing the population of rural areas of Scotland
- Improving equality and eliminating discrimination
- Meeting any targets relating to the reduction of emissions of greenhouse gases
- Securing positive effects for biodiversity
Get involved
We are committed to encouraging interest and wide public involvement in the preparation of NPF4 and want to engage with the public, community, voluntary and private sectors, as well as academics, experts and professional bodies.
We will make a particular effort to reach beyond the people and organisations normally involved in planning consultations.
Our Programme for Engagement sets out further details of our commitments, achievements to date and plans for engagement in early 2020.
Events
As part of our Programme for Engagement, we are hosting a NPF4 Scotplan 2050 Roadshow. The roadshow offers general drop in sessions, where you can come along to speak to the NPF team as well as facilitated workshops where you can discuss key issues with other stakeholders.
We want your ideas
To start the early engagement stage, we have opened our Call for Ideas which runs until the 31 March. During this period we will be inviting all individuals and stakeholders to participate in our ScotPlan 2050 roadshow, as well as inviting any written comments that you wish to make at this early stage. Should you wish to provide written comments, please send to us at scotplan@gov.scot along with a completed Respondent Information Form.
We want your ideas for what Scotland will be like in 2050 and the changes we need to get us there. Whilst any ideas can be submitted to us at this stage, we are particularly interested to hear your thoughts on the following issues:
5. What infrastructure do we need to plan and build to realise our long term aspirations?
To aid consideration and discussion of the above issues, we have prepared background information notes on the policy topics that will need to be addressed when preparing draft NPF4. These notes set out what our existing planning policies are; what has changed since they were introduced; and some of the key issues that we will want to discuss with individuals and stakeholders during the early engagement period. Views should be submitted through the Call for Ideas process which is open until 31 March.
Please note that this is not a formal consultation and we are not expecting detailed answers to each of these questions and the issues raised in the background information policy notes. They have been provided to try to stimulate early debate on key issues, and we are very open to hearing any views you have on how the draft NPF4 can be shaped.
The questions and background information are set out in our leaflet Have your say on the NPF4.
Our Resources page has a range of materials to help you to input to the Call for ideas. You will find a leaflet on how to have your say, details of a community grant fund, a self read presentation, doodle maps, postcards and a suggested workshop format to help you discuss NPF4 with your community or colleagues…..
Our call for ideas is now open, and runs until 31st March.
