Take part in early engagement on National Planning Framework

The Scottish Government has started early engagement on the development of Scotland's fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4).

The National Planning Framework is a long term plan for development and investment across Scotland.

The Scottish Government are encouraging people to take part in this early engagement phase by attending one of a number of events taking place across the country and submitting written comments. A community grant fund has also been launched to give people support to have conversations in their own communities. You can find information on the dates and venues for events, and more information on the Community Fund - Application Form.  

NPF sets out Scottish Ministers’ policies and proposals for the development and use of land. NPF4 will consider what Scotland will be in the future, looking ahead to 2050, and how planning policy can best support delivery of this vision. The NPF will have statutory status in decision-making on planning applications, and it must be taken into account in Local Development Plans.

The Scottish Government commissioned the Rural Planning Policy to 2050 research in order to inform preparation of NPF4. The research explored, from a land use planning perspective, the current challenges and the future opportunities for land use diversification in rural Scotland. It considered how planning policy can support strong and vibrant rural communities and economies in the coming years. You can read the research report on the Scottish Government website. 

The draft NPF4 will be laid in the Scottish Parliament around September 2020 and at that stage there will be formal parliamentary scrutiny and wide public consultation.  A revised version will be brought back to Parliament in 2021 for them to approve, before it can be adopted by the Scottish Ministers. Before that, to help shape the draft, the Scottish Government want to stimulate an open conversation, involving a wide range of people and organisations, about what they will need to plan and build in the future.

To start the early engagement stage, the Scottish Government have opened their Call for Ideas which runs until the 31 March 2020.

Any idea can be submitted at this stage and they are particularly interested in:

• What development will we need to address climate change?
• How can planning best support our quality of life, health and wellbeing in the future?
• What does planning need to do to enable development & investment in our economy to benefit everyone?
• How can planning improve, protect and strengthen the special character of our places?
• What infrastructure do we need to plan and build to realise our long-term aspirations?

Community Grant Fund 

A Community Grant Fund is available to help people run events in their communities. The funding can be used to support community-based events.  It can include supporting childcare or transport costs for participants, funding community events, venue hire, providing interpretation support, promotion, community development support, catering and refreshments, hire of equipment or covering costs of local groups such as local community video groups, music clubs or arts groups to help record the work. The grants are expected to be in the region of £200 to £300. 

Eligible applicants can be community organisations, including community anchor organisations, community councils, community bodies, housing associations and third sector organisations that promote or improve the interests of communities that experience inequalities of outcome as a result of deprivation or rural disadvantage.  

The funding is for events that will be held in financial year 2019-20. This means that events should be undertaken before 31 March 2020. The Scottish Government would expect you to report the outcome of your event by 30 April 2020. The community grant fund closes on 29 February 2020. 

For more information and to apply go to the Community Fund - Application Form.  

Go to the resources section of the Transform Planning website to find more information including a self read presentation, doodle maps, postcards and suggested workshop format to help you discuss NPF4 with your community or colleagues. 

More ways to get involved

You can find a list of the NPF4 events below. 

If you would like to provide written comments send them to scotplan@gov.scot along with a completed Respondent Information Form.

​You can find full information on NPF4 and how to get involved in this early engagement stage on the Scottish Government website. 

For more information and other resources:

• www.transformingplanning.scot
• https://blogs.gov.scot/planning-architecture/
• @ScotGovPlanning on Twitter
• Email: scotplan@gov.scot

Event details