Scottish Planning Policy
National planning policy is currently set out through the following documents:
Statements of Scottish Government policy in the NPF, the SPP, Designing Places and Circulars can be material considerations to be taken into account in development plans and development management decisions. The National Planning Framework must be taken into account when development plans are prepared.
Scottish Planning Policy (SPP)
The consolidated SPP provides a shorter, clearer and more focused statement of national planning policy. The SPP and NPPG series has been replaced by a single SPP. As part of the commitment to proportionate and practical planning policies, the Scottish Government has rationalised national planning policy.
The SPP sets out:
the Scottish Government's view of the purpose of planning,
the core principles for the operation of the system and the objectives for key parts of the system,
statutory guidance on sustainable development and planning under Section 3E of the Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006,
concise subject planning policies, including the implications for development planning and development management, and
the Scottish Government's expectations of the intended outcomes of the planning system.
Alongside policy on development plans, development management, community engagement, sustainable development, climate change and sustainable economic growth, the SPP sets out policy on economic development, town centres and retailing, housing, rural development, fish farming, coastal planning, historic environment, landscape and natural heritage, open space and recreation, green belts, transport, renewable energy, flooding and drainage, waste management, minerals, onshore oil and gas operations, surface coal mining and communications infrastructure.
The SPP supersedes the following documents, which are now revoked:
- SPP 2 - Economic Development
- SPP 3 - Planning for Homes
- SPP 4 - Planning for Minerals
- SPP 6 - Renewable Energy
- SPP 7 - Planning and Flooding
- SPP 8 - Town Centres and Retailing
- SPP 10 - Planning for Waste Management
- SPP 11 - Open Space and Physical Activity
- NPPG 12 - Skiing Developments
- NPPG 13 - Coastal Planning
- NPPG 14 - Natural Heritage
- SPP 15 - Planning for Rural Development
- SPP 16 - Opencast Coal
- SPP 17 - Planning for Transport
- NPPG 19 - Radio Telecommunications
- SPP 20 - Role of Architecture and Design Scotland
- SPP 21 - Green Belts
- SPP 22 - Planning for Fish Farming
- SPP 23 - Planning and the Historic Environment
- Circular 12/1986 - Planning Control over Onshore Oil and Gas Operations
- PAN 53 - Classifying the Coast for Planning Purposes
For further information about the consolidated SPP, please contact Emma Richardson at emma.richardson@scotland.gsi.gov.uk or on 0131 244 7059. If your query relates to a specific policy, please use the contacts listed on the individual policy pages.