National Planning Framework
The National Planning Framework (NPF) is a strategy for the long-term development of Scotland's towns, cities and countryside. It is concerned with how we want Scotland to develop over the next 20 to 25 years and where things need to happen to make that possible. The NPF identifies key strategic infrastructure needs and will allow investment to be directed to ensure that each part of the country can develop to its full potential. Put simply, the NPF is about shaping Scotland's future.
The Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006 puts the NPF on a statutory footing. This means that it now provides a national context for development plans, planning decisions as well as informing the ongoing programmes of The Scottish Government, public agencies and local authorities. Scottish Ministers are committed to reviewing the NPF every four years.
Policy summary
The National Planning Framework 2: Discussion Draft and accompanying documents were issued on 8th January 2008 for a 14 week consultation. In broad terms, the National Planning Framework 2: Discussion Draft covers the following structure:
- Scotland Today - gives an overview of Scotland's current demographic, geographic, economic and social profile.
- Drivers of Change - identifies the trends in those key areas which will shape Scotland's development, such as our economic strategy, population change, commitment to tackling climate change and the introduction of new technologies.
- Scotland 2030 - sets out our ambitions for Scotland's development over the next quarter century.
- Infrastructure - goes into more detail on the critical elements of our national infrastructure: transport, energy, waste, water and drainage, flood protection and communications technology.
- Spatial Perspectives - addresses spatial issues of national importance which cut across regional boundaries, providing a context for development planning.
- Implementation - outlines what is intended for the final NPF2 in terms of an action programme to ensure the delivery of the strategy and national developments.
- National Developments - The developments which are considered to be essential for Scotland's spatial development.
The consultation period closed on April 15, 2008 and all non-confidential responses are available in National Planning Framework 2 Consultation Responses 2008.
The NPF Team would like to thank everyone who participated in the series of National Discussion Conferences and bilateral meetings which took place during the consultation period. The minutes from each of the conferences can be viewed using the links below as can Newsletter 7 which reports on the key issues which emerged from the consultation.
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Latest
Newsletter 8 advises stakeholders of the latest progress regarding the National Planning Framework 2.
All consultation responses have been analysed by an independent consultant and revisions are now being made to the Framework in light of those responses. The consultant's Analysis Report will be published at the same time as the proposed Framework is laid before Parliament for 60 days scrutiny later in the Autumn. The final version of the National Planning Framework 2 will be published early in 2009.
In summary, the next steps in the preparation process for the NPF2 are as follows:
Description | Timing |
Analysis of Consultation Responses and Revision of draft NPF2 | Summer 2008 |
Issue report on the consultation process | Late Autumn 2008 |
Scrutiny of the final draft by Parliament | Late Autumn 2008 |
Final modifications and publication of NPF2 | Early 2009 |
Consultation
National Planning Framework 2 - Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) - Supplementary Assessment of the Environmental Effects of Candidate National Developments - Environmental Report Annex 2 - Consultation Paper.
The Discussion Draft National Planning Framework, which was published in January 2008, proposed nine National Developments. Since then, numerous opportunities, ideas and proposals for other National Developments have been put forward by stakeholders, including members of the public. The Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 obliges the Scottish Government to properly consider the environmental effects of a plan, and alternatives to it, before its content is finalised. The findings from this environmental assessment, and the views expressed on them by consultees, form just one part of an ongoing rigorous process of evaluation to decide which projects will be designated as National Developments. No final conclusions on the merits or otherwise of these suggested National Developments have been drawn at this stage. The presence of any Candidate National Development within the report does not indicate any commitment by the Scottish Government.
Written responses to this consultation paper by October 31, 2008 are invited.
Research
- Analysis of responses to the National Planning Framework 2: Discussion Draft.
Due: Late Autumn 2008
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