The National Planning Framework (NPF) is a strategy for the long-term development of Scotland's towns, cities and countryside. The NPF is about shaping Scotland's future and is concerned with how Scotland develops over the next 20 years and how to make that possible. The NPF identifies key strategic infrastructure needs to ensure that each part of the country can develop to its full potential.
National Planning Framework 2 (NPF2) was published on June 25 2009. It sets the spatial strategy for Scotland's development to 2030, and designates 14 national developments of strategic importance to Scotland. The Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006 requires Scottish Ministers to prepare a national planning framework. It also requires planning authorities to take NPF2 into account in development plans and development management decisions.
NPF2 replaces the first NPF, which was published in 2004. In announcing the publication of the second National Planning Framework (NPF2), on June 25, 2009, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth, John Swinney said "NPF2 marks a further advance in spatial planning practice and will help to bring additional certainty for investors and planning practitioners in Scotland."
To ensure effective delivery, NPF2 is supported by a Action Programme setting out how and by whom the national developments and other key elements of the NPF strategy will be implemented.
NPF2 Monitoring Report
The NPF2 Monitoring Report, published in March 2012, reports on progress in delivering the strategy set out in the second National Planning Framework. The Monitoring Report also reports on monitoring required as part of the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) process.
Current Action
Planning legislation requires Scottish Ministers to revise the NPF within 5 years of publication. Scottish Ministers have confirmed that work on the preparation of NPF3 will commence in autumn 2012, focusing strongly on economic recovery and the transition to a low carbon economy.
Further Information