The Scottish Government

Sustainable Development and Climate Change

Sustainable development looks to ensure that any planning decision balances social and economic development with environmental integrity. In planning terms it strives to promote and implement planning permissions that have the right qualities in the right locations. It should be seen as the principal opportunity in sustainable development, driven by elements of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009.

Policy Summary

The Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006 stipulates that any work relating to the preparation of the National Planning Framework and development planning should make a positive contribution to sustainable development.

The draft SPP provides guidance on sustainable development under section 3E of the 2006 Act. Further information on the draft SPP can be found under the heading 'SPP Update' below.

Planning can contribute to sustainable development through: location; layout and operation; and maintenance. It must also explicitly help to mitigate the causes of climate change and to adapt to its impacts.

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 from 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.