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PLANNING Bulletin: Issue No 22 December 2003

The National Planning Framework will guide the spatial development of Scotland in the period to 2025, providing a long-term vision which will inform the preparation of other plans and programmes. The Executive will use the framework to support economic development and area regeneration. The framework will focus on the role of investment in public infrastructure in enabling each part of the country to contribute to a Scotland that is competitive, fair and sustainable.

Preparation of the framework is a Partnership Agreement commitment and the Cabinet has established an ad hoc Group of Ministers to steer the development of the document.

The framework has been prepared with extensive stakeholder involvement. In Autumn 2002, regional seminars were held to seek views on the status of the framework, the process of preparation and the issues it should address. In June, a second round of seminars was held in Aberdeen, Inverness, Stirling, Ayr and Selkirk to share emerging thinking and seek views on the key messages the framework should be conveying for the different parts of Scotland.

Throughout the preparation process, meetings have been held with key agencies and interests such as Scottish Enterprise, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Scottish Natural Heritage, Communities Scotland, the Forestry Commission, local authorities and CBI Scotland. A seminar has been held for councillors and presentations have been given to MSPs, the Scottish Parliament's Transport and Environment Committee and environmental and professional organisations.

The broad consensus which has emerged from stakeholder consultations is that the framework should focus on a limited number of key spatial issues of genuine national importance. The issues which emerged most strongly are strategic transport infrastructure, the spatial aspects of economic development, and energy, water and telecommunications infrastructure. The framework will set out the Executive's priorities in terms of economic development, area regeneration and infrastructure provision and identify areas where coordinated action is required in the national interest.

An environmental assessment of the framework is being undertaken. Consultants have been engaged to advise on a method of assessment appropriate to this level of spatial planning and a working group has been established to provide expert advice on the preparation of an environmental report.

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