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MAKING IT HAPPEN
297. The issue of this discussion draft is part of a process of engagement and debate on Scotland's long-term spatial development. The final, published version of the second National Planning Framework will contain an action programme setting out how, when and by whom the strategy will be implemented. The action programme will identify:
- a list of actions required to implement the strategy and national developments contained within NPF2;
- the organisation or organisations responsible for carrying out each action; and
- the timescale for carrying out each action.
298. The Scottish Government wants to use this consultation to seek views on the deliverability of the NPF strategy and the national developments identified within it. Over the next 6 months the Government will have discussions with local authorities and other key stakeholders to identify the tasks and timescales required to ensure effective delivery of the Framework. The process will result in a series of commitments from stakeholders which will be included in the action programme. The relevant actions should then form part of stakeholders' own service delivery plans.
299. The key elements which will be addressed in the action programme include:
- the suite of national developments;
- taking forward the concept of a sub-sea super-grid;
- regeneration of the Clyde Gateway and Commonwealth Games facilities;
- investment in water and drainage infrastructure to support economic growth and regeneration;
- the delivery of new sustainable communities;
- the development of a Central Belt Green Network and national habitat networks;
- the development of decentralised energy production, local heat networks and combined heat and power; and
- infrastructure to support the implementation of the National Waste Plan.
300. During the discussion period on the draft Framework, the following actions will be pursued:
- Development Plan Preparation
Engagement with planning authorities to ensure that the NPF strategy and national developments are reflected in the preparation of the relevant strategic development plans and local development plans. Liaison with the strategic development plan authorities for the Edinburgh and Aberdeen City regions will be pursued with priority in moving forward the strategy. Discussions with the Strategic Development Plan Authority for the Dundee city region will also be pursued. The focus of engagement with the Glasgow city region will be around implementation of the existing, up-to-date strategic plan, which is crucial to the delivery of the NPF in that area. Key agencies are encouraged to embrace their new duties and pro-actively engage in the preparation of development plans to ensure delivery of NPF2.
- Developing agendas for areas requiring co-ordinated action.
Discussions to develop agendas for co-ordinated action in the Clyde Corridor (including the Clyde Gateway, the 2014 Commonwealth Games facilities; implementation of the Glasgow Strategic Drainage Plan; and the Clyde Waterfront); in West Edinburgh; and in the Inverness - Nairn corridor. There will also be discussions on the development of a strategy for the Upper Forth including meetings with Transport Scotland, Ineos, Forth Ports and Falkirk Council on the development of the Grangemouth Freight Hub and with Babcock and Fife Council on the development of a strategy for the proposed International Container Terminal at Port Babcock in Rosyth.
- Securing Scotland's energy supply
Further consideration of the actions required to secure the long-term future of Scotland's energy supply. The Government will liaise with the transmission system operators, Ofgem, planning authorities, key agencies and energy suppliers to meet the challenge of a secure, affordable and sustainable energy supply into the future;
- Creation of Sustainable Communities
During the discussion period the Government will be looking to local authorities to put forward proposals for the creation of sustainable communities which demonstrate partnership with the development industry and have been the subject of discussion with local communities. A key consideration in selecting larger sites for new development is that they are well connected by public transport or have the potential to be well connected in phase with development taking place. For smaller sites, the ability to walk or cycle to existing or planned services such as schools, health centres and shops will be important.
In bringing forward proposals, certain locations should generally be avoided, in particular areas at risk of flooding or where there is a probability of landslips; areas which are subject to high levels of noise, for example from aircraft, motorways or trunk roads; or where development would lead to the erosion of significant natural heritage resources; or would see the loss of a significant area of prime quality agricultural land.
The Government is looking for proposals that are aspirational in terms of their design qualities and their response to one the major challenges Scotland faces - climate change.
In locational terms the Government will expect submissions to demonstrate their compatibility with the local landscape character and will, therefore, early in 2008 issue a revised PAN 44 Fit of New Housing in the Landscape.
The Government is not looking for detailed master plans or design codes at this stage but it will expect submissions to demonstrate how they will address issues like promoting local identity in place-making and architectural style; decentralised heat and power; sustainable design and construction, particularly in relation to energy efficient, low carbon buildings, well integrated green space that enhances biodiversity; and sustainable drainage.
The submissions should also focus on deliverability, indicating how the projects can be delivered through the planning system including possible identification in the National Planning Framework, and the role of strategic and local development plans and supplementary planning guidance. It is not intended that development should proceed through each of these levels of forward planning. The objective is to identify a critical path for expediting delivery which will ensure that environmental issues are addressed fully and there are opportunities for local communities to shape the location, scale and nature of development. The submissions should also indicate key constraints which need to be overcome such as land ownership, drainage capacity, and the presence of former mineral workings and/or contaminants.
Further details of the approach and the processes to be followed will be published in early February 2008 to allow consideration of the responses to the original proposition for Sustainable Communities in Firm Foundations. The Government also intends to hold various events to raise awareness of this important initiative and to seek views on how it can best assist the implementation of this initiative. The final version of the National Planning Framework will include, as part of the action programme, details of a programme to ensure the delivery of what the Government hopes will be the conservation areas of tomorrow.
301. The Government will be holding various events during the consultation period to seek views on this consultative draft including the detail of the action programme. Further information about the consultation events can be found in the NPF Participation Statement which can be accessed on the Government's NPF webpage at www.scotland.gov.uk/topics/planning/national-planning.
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