National Planning Framework 4 Analysis of responses to the Call for Ideas August 2020 Report prepared by: Craigforth 1st Floor Lomond Court Castle Business Park Stirling FK9 4TU T: 01786 448610 E: [email protected] http://www.craigforth.co.uk/ Report commissioned by: Planning and Architecture Division Area 2F South Victoria Quay Edinburgh EH6 6QQ Tel: 0131 244 7528 e-mail: [email protected] web: http:// www.transformingplanning.scot © Crown Copyright 2020 Applications for reproduction of any part of this publication should be addressed to: Planning and Architecture Division, Directorate for Local Government and Communities, Area 2F (South) Victoria Quay, Edinburgh, EH6 6QQ This report is published electronically to limit the use of paper, but photocopies will be provided on request to Planning and Architecture Division. Contents Introduction ......................................................................................................... 1 Summary of key questions ................................................................................. 7 People .................................................................................................................21 Community facilities..............................................................................................22 Culture and the arts ..............................................................................................26 Digital connectivity................................................................................................28 Green infrastructure..............................................................................................30 Gypsy Travellers ..................................................................................................35 Health ..................................................................................................................38 Housing - Affordable .............................................................................................45 Housing - General ................................................................................................50 Housing - Specialist ..............................................................................................65 Waste...................................................................................................................69 Work ....................................................................................................................72 Aquaculture ..........................................................................................................73 Business and employment ....................................................................................75 Energy - Electricity ...............................................................................................85 Energy - Heat .......................................................................................................93 Mineral extraction .................................................................................................96 Rural development ...............................................................................................99 Tourism .............................................................................................................. 106 Town centres...................................................................................................... 108 Place ................................................................................................................. 110 Air quality ........................................................................................................... 111 Climate change .................................................................................................. 113 Coastal planning................................................................................................. 122 Flooding ............................................................................................................. 124 Green belts ........................................................................................................ 130 Historic environment ........................................................................................... 132 Infrastructure ...................................................................................................... 134 Land assembly and compulsory purchase .......................................................... 138 Natural environment ........................................................................................... 140 Peatland ............................................................................................................. 147 Placemaking....................................................................................................... 151 Sustainability ...................................................................................................... 159 Transport............................................................................................................ 167 Vacant and derelict land ..................................................................................... 175 Housing Technical Discussion Paper ............................................................. 177 National Developments .................................................................................... 201 Integrated Impact Assessment ........................................................................ 203 Annex 1: Organisational respondents ............................................................. 209 Introduction Context The National Planning Framework (NPF) is a long-term plan for Scotland that sets out where development and infrastructure is needed to support sustainable and inclusive growth. The current framework - NPF3 - was published in 2014 and the Scottish Government has now begun a process of review and preparation of a new framework – NPF4. NPF4 is expected to look very different to NPF3, with a longer time horizon to 2050, fuller regional coverage and improved alignment with wider programmes and strategies, including on infrastructure and economic investment. NPF4 will also incorporate Scottish Planning Policy so that, for the first time, spatial and thematic planning policies will be addressed in one place. It will have the status of the development plan for planning purposes. This is a change to the current position and will mean that its policies will have a stronger role in informing day-to-day decision making. The Call for Ideas The Scottish Government is committed to encouraging interest and wide public involvement in the preparation of NPF4 and is engaging with the public, community, voluntary and private sectors, as well as academics, experts and professional bodies. To this end, a Call for Ideas on NPF4 was launched on 9 January 2020, including a roadshow with workshop sessions in locations across Scotland. Individuals and stakeholders were invited to participate in workshop sessions and/or make a written submission. Workshops had to be curtailed as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, by which point 13 locations around Scotland had been visited. Also in response to COVID-19, the deadline for submission of written responses was extended from 31 March to 30 April 2020. The Scottish Government’s Transforming Planning website1 provides a wide range of resources to support the NPF4 development process, including the early engagement stage. These resources include: 2050 Think Pieces – a collection of 35 think piece contributions on Scotland 2050 provided by planning stakeholders that are designed to stimulate discussion and debate during the early engagement period and to help stakeholders to think about priorities for NPF4. Scottish Planning Policy materials, including background information notes on the 32 policy topics that will need to be addressed when preparing the draft NPF4. These notes set out the existing planning policies, what has changed since they were introduced, a proposed key objective of NPF4 and a series of questions for consultees. The 32 policy topics are grouped under one of three themes. People covers how planning can support wellbeing ensuring communities have access to services and facilities; Work covers effective and 1 See https://www.transformingplanning.scot 1 Introduction efficient planning to support inclusive growth; and Place covers how planning can maintain and enhance the unique character and identity of our natural and built environment. Housing Technical Discussion Paper setting out the Scottish Government’s current thinking on the methodology that could be used for setting ‘targets for the use of land for housing in different areas of Scotland’ as required in NPF4 by the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019. National Development factsheet, invitation and response form, with information covering the assessment criteria for assessing potential National Developments and how to make a suggestion. Regional Spatial Strategies factsheet covering the role and development of Regional Spatial Strategies and their relationship to NPF4. Integrated Impact Assessment Scoping Report to inform the data-gathering and early engagement stages of the NPF4 preparation process. The report sets out the various assessments to be undertaken to assess the impacts of NPF4 on the environment, society and equalities, and businesses. While any ideas could be submitted, the Scottish Government noted that they were particularly interested to hear