Scottish planning policy

The fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4) will incorporate Scottish Planning Policy which contains detailed national policy on a number of planning topics. For the first time, spatial and thematic planning policies will be addressed in one place.

The current Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) was published in 2014 and will remain in place until NPF4 is approved by the Scottish Parliament, and adopted by Scottish Ministers.

The Draft NPF4 sets out refreshed planning policy under four themes:

• Sustainable places
• Liveable places
• Productive places
• Distinctive places

As part of developing the Draft NPF4, a series of policy information notes were produced.  These were updated in December 2021 to reflect the proposed national policies in Part 3 of Draft NPF4.

Planning policy research

We have published a number of research reports relating to Scottish Planning Policy:

• Research on the Effectiveness of Scottish Planning Policy
• Research on the Effectiveness of Scottish Planning Policy - Database
• Research on Rural Planning Policy to 2050 
• Research on Improving Air Quality Outcomes
• Securing positive effects for biodiversity – NatureScot Report to Scottish Government - PDF (1.15MB)

Planning policy development 

The Scottish Government convened a working group which acted as a sounding board to inform the development of updated planning policy on biodiversity in draft National Planning Framework 4. The group have met virtually, on four occasions. The notes and related presentations from each workshop are listed;

Workshop 1

NPF4 Securing positive effects for biodiversity - Workshop 1 - GAT - Presentation - PDF (1.26MB)

NPF4 Securing positive effects for biodiversity - Workshop 1 - Meeting note - PDF (755kB)

NPF4 Securing positive effects for biodiversity - Workshop 1 - Nature Scot - Presentation - PDF (1.07MB)

NPF4 Securing positive effects for biodiversity - Workshop 1 - Nature Scot - Presentation2 - PDF (1.43MB)

Workshop 2

NPF4 Securing positive effects for biodiversity - Workshop 2 - LLTNP - PDF (305kB)

NPF4 Securing positive effects for biodiversity - Workshop 2 - Meeting Note - PDF (638kB)

NPF4 Securing positive effects for biodiversity - Workshop 2 - Nature Scot - Presentation - PDF (1.69MB)

Workshop 3

NPF4 Securing positive effects for biodiversity - Workshop 3 - Meeting Note - PDF (279kB)

NPF4 PEfB - Mainstreaming biodiversity - Workshop 3 - towards a national obligation - NatureScot - PDF (349kB)

NPF4 - Biodiversity - Workshop 3 - NatureScot - Presentation - PDF (837kB)

Workshop 4

NPF4 Securing positive effects for biodiversity - Workshop 4 - Minutes of meeting - PDF (818 kB)

NPF4 Securing positive effects for biodiversity - Workshop 4 - Presentation - PDF (1.27MB)

NPF4 Securing positive effects for biodiversity - Workshop 4 - Biodiversity Strategy Development Process Presentation - PDF (592kB)

NPF4 PEfB Workshop 4 - Developing with Nature guidance presentation - PDF (1.67MB)

NPF4 Securing positive effects for biodiversity - Workshop 4 - Presentation - PDF (1.16MB)