National Planning Framework 4: delivery programme - third update

A. Introduction

National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4), approved by the Scottish Parliament and adopted and published by the Scottish Ministers in February 2023, sets out the Scottish Ministers’ policies and proposals for the development and use of land. It includes our National Spatial Strategy for Scotland 2045, incorporating national developments and regional spatial priorities, and national planning policy to guide decision making on planning applications.

NPF4 and any relevant local development plan (LDP) form the statutory development plan for any given area of Scotland. The planning system in Scotland is plan-led and decisions on planning applications must be made in accordance with the development plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise.

This is the third iteration of the NPF4 Delivery Programme. We will update the Delivery Programme annually.

Context for delivery of NPF4

Delivery of NPF4 will be a significant contributor to addressing the four priorities of the new First Minister:

• eradicating child poverty;
• growing the economy;
• tackling the climate emergency; and
• improving public services.

The wider context for delivery of NPF4 has also evolved and will continue to evolve over the framework’s ten year life cycle. Since NPF4 was adopted in February 2023, background shifts with particularly strong links to the spatial strategy include:

• An improving economic outlook, with modest growth forecast for the Scottish economy for 2024.
• On 15 May 2024 the Scottish Parliament passed a motion stating that Scotland is in a housing emergency.
• There has been progress in implementation of Green Freeports, with a new planning protocol published to support investment. And,
• We have published a new Green Industrial Strategy which recognises the importance of planning as a key enabler of development and investment.

In the context of commitments made in NPF4, and to reflect our priorities, we expect Scotland’s planning system to:

• Make Scotland the most attractive part of the UK to invest in, by unlocking opportunities for economic growth and by improving planning practice and performance. We are open to working with all partners, including businesses, the development sector, planning authorities and key agencies, to ensure planning helps to unlock opportunities for growth. As part of this, NPF4 policies aim to provide greater consistency and predictability to applicants by making clear what is expected from development proposals.
• Contribute to our work to tackle the climate and nature crises. This includes ensuring planning plays an effective role in consenting by supporting planning authorities through increased capacity and learning on new technologies. And,
• Respond to the housing emergency by working with partners to facilitate the delivery of new homes that meet diverse needs in the numbers required. NPF4 takes a plan-led approach to development, to ensure new homes are in sustainable, well-serviced locations.

The realisation of these ambitions is being progressed through priority delivery actions by the Scottish Government programmed during the next year. This includes identifying scope for further investment in resourcing the planning system via the Planning Hub. Delivery is also being actively supported by progress in preparation of new style LDPs.