Economic Development
The planning system guides the future development and use of land, ensuring that these occur in suitable, sustainable locations. It provides strong support for economic development, where it is consistent with other national and local policies. It also has an important role to play in supporting a competitive Scotland by deciding planning applications for economic development in an efficient and consistent manner, on the basis of positive and up-to-date development plans.
Policy summary
Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) 2: Economic Development provides policy to:
- ensure that existing business locations are able to meet the anticipated changes in the economy and provide choice for a diverse range of economic developments.
- provide for special sites, particularly those of national significance and those which support the knowledge-based economy.
- support for existing and new small businesses and for development in small towns and rural areas.
- secure the delivery of sites for economic development in sustainable locations by identifying key locations which are highly accessible by public transport.
SPP Update
As part of the commitment to proportionate and practical planning polices, the Scottish Government is rationalising the Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) and National Planning Policy Guidance (NPPG) series into a single, shorter statement of national planning policy. The initial sections of the consolidated SPP were published in October 2008 as Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) covering the core principles, aspirations and expectations of the planning system. The remaining sections of the consolidated SPP, covering community engagement, sustainable development, outcomes and the subject policies, were published for consultation in April 2009. The consultation closed in June 2009. A further consultation on changes to the sustainable development, climate change, flooding and coastal planning sections and to policy on onshore oil and gas operations and high amenity business locations ran fron September 30, 2009 until November 12, 2009. The final consolidated SPP will at published by the end of 2009. More information on the consolidation is available on the SPP home page.