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30 March 2022
Concerns about whether resources are in place to support Scotland’s flagship planning policy, the National Planning Framework (NPF4), have been expressed today by Holyrood’s Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee.
NPF4 sets out the Scottish Government’s strategy for Scotland’s long-term development, and guides decisions on every application for planning permission submitted in Scotland.
Now, in a wide ranging report, the Committee has highlighted a number of key issues raised in its consideration of NPF4. This includes concerns about the ability of the planning departments to meet the ambitious aims of the plan.
The wide-ranging plans will influence the development of Scotland’s cities, towns and rural areas until 2045. But whilst welcoming the ambition of the plans, the Committee has raised questions over the clarity of some the terms used as well as how planning decisions can be used to address the climate emergency.
In asking the Scottish Government to consider its concerns, the Committee also makes clear in the report the need for sufficient time to be made for scrutiny of the final version of NPF4.
Speaking as the report launched, Committee Convener Ariane Burgess MSP said:
“The ambition and scope of the Scottish Government’s plan is to be welcomed. The National Planning Framework aims to be transformational and there is no doubt that it will have a significant impact.
“But, as the report states, in order to reach its full potential the Scottish Government must reflect on the concerns we heard about whether planning departments are adequately resourced to deliver on these policies and really deliver impactful change.
“In our report we make it clear that there are questions to be answered about the National Planning Framework and we would ask that the Scottish Government listens carefully to the issues we have raised about resources, clarity and purpose of what is billed as one of the its flagship policies.”
The National Planning Framework was introduced to Parliament on 10 November 2021, with the Parliament having the Scottish Parliament has 120 days to report on the Framework.
Billed as the spatial expression of Scottish Government policy, the National Planning Framework sets out how places and environments will be planned and designed for years to come.
Read more about the Committee's consideration of the Framework
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