Member Article

The Planning etc (Scotland) Act 2006 has placed the National Planning Framework (NPF) – Scotland's national planning strategy - on a statutory footing, to be reviewed every four years.

The NPF was published in 2004 to largely widespread approval from industry, political and community figures. The purpose of the NPF was to introduce the Scottish Executive's strategy for the "spatial development of Scotland until 2025".  

In 2008, the Scottish Government proposes the publication of the National Planning Framework 2 (NPF2), an updated strategic development proposal to guide development in Scotland until 2030 and provide a context for development plans and planning decisions.  The key theme of NPF2 is sustainable economic growth. This is an objective to be realized whilst taking into account Scotland's responsibilities for carbon emissions and its impact on climate change.

NPF2 (as currently drafted) provides a framework built around the key themes of economic strategy, sustainable development, and regeneration.  However, in terms of the balance, NPF2 appears to give an enhanced importance to economic relative to social issues.  Paragraph 78 states that “the primary purpose of the Scottish Government is to increase sustainable economic growth”. 

NPF2 identifies the following developments as national developments:

1. Replacement Forth crossing
2. Edinburgh Airport enhancement
3. Glasgow Airport enhancement
4. Grangemouth Freight Terminal
5. Rosyth International Container Terminal
6. Scappa Flow Container Transhipment facility
7. Grid reinforcement to support renewable energy
8. Glasgow Strategic Drainage Scheme
9. 2014 Commonwealth Games facilities

The most important and significant part of NPF2 addresses infrastructure.  There is recognition that achieving many of the objectives set out requires improved, enhanced or new infrastructure and to this end, the NPF2 places a greater emphasis on implementation than its predecessor.

The fact that certain projects will be identified as national developments in NPF2 provides them with an enhanced status in planning terms.  It also seems clear that the developments will also enjoy an enhanced status in terms of access to substantial levels of funding. 

Paragraph 10 of NPF2 makes clear that the Framework is more than simply a spatial development strategy for Scotland.  The paragraph states that “the identification of national developments is an important signal of long term infrastructure priorities that will contribute to Scotland’s sustainable economic growth.  While the Framework is not itself a spending document, it is closely linked to the Government’s Infrastructure Investment Plan and will inform the investment programmes of public agencies and infrastructure providers”. 

Another important element of NPF2 is that it will be published together with an action plan. The action plan will list the actions required to implement both the overall strategy and the national developments.  Crucially it will name the organizations responsible for carrying out each action and, crucially again, identify timescales for the actions to deliver the national developments which the consultation process has identified. 

The consultation period for NPF2 is open until 15 April. If you wish to comment on any element of the framework then it is advised that responses to the discussion draft are submitted.

The purpose of NPF2 is to encourage and enhance Scotland's sustainable economic growth and there is a role in this for all developers. If the framework is drafted correctly then the action plan will meet its key aims for Scotland: a nation that is wealthier and fairer, greener, safer and stronger, smarter and healthier. If this is achieved, with consistency of approach at each of the review dates of the NPF, 2030 can see Scotland, at worst, consolidate its contribution to the UK economy and, at best, take its place amongst the affluent small nations of Europe.