The Scottish Government

SPP 1 Planning system (2002)

Promote regeneration, full and appropriate use of land, buildings and infrastructure

Promote use of previously developed land and minimise greenfield development

Conserve important historic and cultural assets

Protect and enhance areas for recreation and natural heritage

Support better access by foot bicycle and public transport

Encourage energy efficiency through layout and design of development

Encourage prudent use of natural resources

Require good design

Encourage improvement of the physical environment

SPP2 Economic development (2002)

Identify supporting action eg for environmental improvement that can assist the delivery of economic development

NPPG 3 Housing (1996)

Re-use vacant or cleared land in urban areas.

Specify the standards and criteria against which the development of gap, garden or other infill sites will be judged.

Specify those areas where regeneration and environmental improvement is to be given priority.

Define any areas of the countryside where isolated sporadic or small groups of houses in the countryside will be allowed; set out the criteria against which proposals for individual houses within these areas will be judged.

Provide for the conversion and re-use of buildings including redundant farm buildings.

Clearly define areas including green belts where new housing will not normally be allowed.

Protect valuable urban open space, particularly playing fields.

Guide the design of new housing proposals, including where appropriate the preparation of planning briefs, particularly in relation to new settlements.

NPPG 4 Mineral Working (1994)

Define sites or areas of search, where mineral working would be favoured.

Define sites or areas where environmental considerations are likely to militate against mineral working.

Ameliorate significant environmental effects for proposed mineral developments.

Promote reclamation of sites to beneficial after-use.

Provide for regular monitoring and the preparation of environmental audits.

Facilitate recycling and re-use of material in waste tips and construction wastes where environmentally acceptable.

Include criteria for testing planning applications in respect of pollution, nature conservation, landscape, cultural heritage and built up areas.

NPPG 5 Archaeology (1994)

Require the protection, preservation and, where appropriate, enhancement of all nationally important sites of archaeological interest and their settings; and also for other unscheduled remains and their settings identified as particularly worthy of preservation.

Require the protection and where appropriate the enhancement of landscapes of historic importance including historic gardens and designed landscapes, and their settings.

Require the excavation and recording of sites where the primary aim of preservation has not been achieved.

NPPG 6 Renewable Energy (2000)

Support Scottish Minister's commitment to renewable energy and provide positively for its development

Define broad areas of search suitable for wind and other renewable energy developments or, where appropriate, specific sites.

Safeguard, where appropriate, areas with potential for renewable energy.

Indicate whether there are areas or sites where, for overriding environmental reasons, proposals for renewable energy development would only be considered in exceptional circumstances.

Guide developers on the broad criteria they would be required to consider in any development proposal, including those falling outwith preferred areas.

NPPG 7 Flooding (1995)

Indicate where a degree of flood risk exists.

Define areas where development is unlikely to be acceptable and areas where flood threat can be managed

NPPG 8 Town Centres and Retailing (1998)

Promote the environmental improvement of town and other centres and retail and commercial leisure developments,

Provide criteria for testing new developments outwith the framework of preferred sites and indicate how such developments will be assessed including environmental and design criteria.

NPPG 9 Roadside Facilities (1996)

Require developments to fit in the landscape, avoid harm to other natural features and the built environment and minimise effects of noise, visual intrusion and vehicle emissions.

Require landscaping of parking areas.

NPPG 10 Waste Management (1996)

Encourage development which assists in the reduction, re-use and recovery of waste for example through the re-use of buildings wherever practicable

Provide facilities as close as is reasonable to the source of waste production, taking into account the safeguarding of the natural and built environment.

Require provision of recycling facilities at new superstores and provide for other civic amenity sites

Provide guidance on appropriate locations for differing waste management facilities including special and clinical wastes and wastewater treatment plants.

Provide standards for landfill site restoration, aftercare and after-use and the proper landscaping of all waste sites.

Identify closed landfills, whether they require further treatment and specify appropriate after-uses.

Protect groundwater

NPPG 11 Sport Physical Recreation and Open Space (1996)

Protect and enhance parks and open spaces and other land of recreational, amenity or wildlife value.

Identify public access routes, referring to other publications if appropriate, state the statutory position and indicate where the network requires to be augmented.

Safeguard and improve public access to open space and to the countryside, especially Green Belts and promote new or replacement routes.

Promote planting of new woodlands for recreation, landscape and nature conservation benefits.

Safeguard nature conservation and cultural heritage designations and the character of the landscape from effects of sporting or recreational developments including the effects of increased traffic in rural areas.

NPPG 12 Skiing (1997) [where relevant]

Set out criteria against which new ski and associated developments will be considered including environmental criteria

Indicate sites to be developed or improved, having regard to visual and other likely environmental impacts.

Provide for the monitoring and management of slopes in order to minimise damage to thin soil cover and fragile habitats.

NPPG 13 Coastal planning (1997)

Define in the proposals map the extent of the coastal zone and in particular the developed, undeveloped and isolated coast.

Protect the environment on the coast.

Identify priority sites for enhancement and regeneration and opportunities for restoring degraded coastal environments.

Set out the criteria that will be applied with respect to the location and design of new development having regard to the risk from erosion and flooding, cultural and natural heritage interests.

Incorporate policies developed in Local Agenda 21 or Local Biodiversity Action Plans to meet local biodiversity objectives.

NPPG 14 Natural heritage (1999)

Protection and, where appropriate, enhancement of internationally, nationally and locally designated areas and sites (including potential SPAs and SACs).

Indicate the criteria against which a development affecting a natural heritage designation will be assessed.

Encourage the management and safeguard of features of the landscape of major importance for nature conservation or amenity, including field boundaries, woodlands, trees, lochs, ponds, watercourses and other wetlands

Include policies for the conservation and/or enhancement of landscape character, including, where appropriate, wild land character.

Make appropriate provision for Local Nature Reserves and the protection and enhancement of open space of natural heritage value.

Identify opportunities to extend native woodland cover and to maintain and enhance wetlands.

Provide for the conservation of biodiversity and the protection and enhancement of the natural heritage outwith designated areas.

Invoke and apply the precautionary principle.

Identify appropriate opportunities to improve public access for the purposes of enjoying and learning about the natural heritage.

NPPG 15 Rural development (1999)

Identify opportunities for re-use/conversion of agricultural buildings and set out the criteria against which applications for residential and business re-use will be assessed.

Identify locations where tourism development could lead to environmental improvement and improve public enjoyment of the countryside.

NPPG 16 Opencast coal (1999)

Define the broad areas where opencast coal and related minerals development may be acceptable and set out the criteria to be addressed when assessing individual proposals.

NPPG 17 Transport (1999)

Encourage people to make more journeys by walking, cycling, and public transport.

Appraise the effects of road and other infrastructure proposals for their local setting, taking into account implications for the natural and built environments, the extent to which they can enhance them, or if not, demonstrate that all non-damaging alternative options have been considered and how any adverse effects might be mitigated.

Retention and safeguarding of linear routes such as canals and former railway lines, and other existing networks for public access on foot and by cycle, including protection and enhancement of green networks and footpaths within and around towns and cities to provide informal recreational opportunities.

Set standards for road construction including definition of areas where particular sensitivity is required to ensure that road standards reflect the existing character and amenity of the area.

Provide for traffic and parking management and safe and secure provision for walking and cycling including standards for the design and location of cycle parking.

Require transport assessments and green transport plans to be submitted in support of planning applications for specified development types.

NPPG 18 Historic environment (1999)

Define the historic environment and where appropriate, its landscape or townscape setting, in proposals maps.

Include policies for the protection, conservation and enhancement of the historic environment and its setting including listed buildings, conservation areas, scheduled monuments and historic gardens and designed landscapes.

Include reference to existing and proposed Article 4 Directions that relate to conservation areas.

Outline criteria that will be applied to development proposals within conservation areas, within the curtilage of listed buildings and development affecting the setting of scheduled monuments, listed buildings, conservation areas, historic gardens and designed landscapes.

Specify criteria that will be applied to proposals for alteration, extension, demolition or re-use of listed buildings and for unlisted buildings within conservation areas.

Identify priorities for enhancement programmes, including opportunities for regeneration or revitalisation. Indicate sites and areas for which development briefs, design guides, character appraisals and other relevant guidance have been prepared.

NPPG 19 Telecomms (2001)

Specify development control criteria for radio telecommunications development including siting and design matters