Chamber and committees

Response from the Minister for Public Finance, Planning and Community Wealth on Laying Date for the Fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4) - 1 November 2021

Letter from the Minister for Public Finance, Planning and Community Wealth to the Convener - 1 November 2021

Dear Ariane,

Thank you for your letter of 28 October enquiring about the laying date for the Fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4).

As you note, I have committed to publishing the Draft NPF4 in the Autumn. I am not able to confirm an exact date, but we are working hard to ensure that we lay the draft document in the Scottish Parliament and commence the public consultation as soon as possible. This is likely to be during the month of November.

We are not viewing the 120 day scrutiny period, as set by the Parliament, to be limiting. Whilst the precise dates cannot be confirmed until the draft is laid, we estimate this this will take us from November to around Easter recess. This is double the consideration period for National Planning Framework 3. It also represents a longer timescale than our two earlier rounds of stakeholder engagement for NPF4.

Officials advise that your Clerks are also keen to have early sight of our engagement programme. As per my letter of 25 October 2021, we have now published our formal Participation Statement, and are working up the finer details of the consultation. I would be happy for officials to share a copy of our Programme for Engagement, in confidence with the clerks, once finalised. You may wish to note that we do not intend to start proactive engagement events until January, allowing stakeholders time to digest the content of the document.

Kind Regards,

TOM ARTHUR