All things planning are up for grabs over the coming year, and now’s the time to get your voice heard!

What’s going on?

The Scottish Government recently announced not only an anticipated review of the National Planning Framework (NPF), but also an unexpected review of Scottish Planning Policy (SPP).

The NPF provides a framework for the spatial development of Scotland, and designates ‘national developments’ which once in, limits the grounds on which local communities can object to them. Planning legislation requires Scottish Ministers to revise the NPF within 5 years of publication. Scottish Ministers have confirmed that work on the preparation of NPF3 will focus strongly on economic recovery and the transition to a low carbon economy.

SPP is a statement of Scottish Government policy on nationally important land use matters, and has a strong influence over planning at a local level. The Government want to review the whole document in order to: up-date policy; focus the policy on sustainable economic growth; and emphasise place making.

What does this mean for us?

What this means is that a lot of hard fought over policies relating to the environment in the existing SPP are under threat. But it also means we have an opportunity to submit ideas for national developments that will protect and enhance our environment for NPF3, and hopefully to ensure damaging developments don’t go into it.

There’s a real risk that the Government will try to shift the focus of planning policy from sustainable development to sustainable economic growth. We need to urge the Government to understand that economic growth is one of many means to an end, not an end in itself, and retain an overall focus on sustainable development.

Read more about the environment and economy.

What do we want to change?

Our key priorities for change in Scottish Planning Policy are:

• Retain and strengthen support for sustainable development in Scottish Planning Policy and National Planning Framework
• Introduce a precautionary principle approach to onshore unconventional gas extraction policy 
• Retain important policies in the current SPP that protect the environment and communities

Our key priorities for the National Planning Framework are:

• Ensure that damaging developments in the existing NPF don’t get carried forward into the new one, such as the coal fired power station at Hunterston
• Encourage Government to introduce and retain developments that will protect and enhance our environment, such as the Central Scotland Green Network

What can I do about it?

The Government are carrying out public consultation events around the country and this is your chance to stand up for the environment and communities! See dates and locations below.

Don’t be put off by all the technical jargon! Keep it simple and let the Government know that you want to see them do more for the environment.

FoES staff will be engaging in the review process over the coming year. We would love to see your ideas for positive national developments that you would like to see in the new National Planning Framework!

Email your ideas to info@foe-scotland.org.uk by 30 November or fill in the form below.