National Planning Framework 4: delivery programme - third update

C. Priorities for delivery 2024/25

Delivering our ambitions

The business plan for our planning teams for 2024/25 prioritises activity that will contribute to implementation of NPF4 and achievement of the ambitions outlined above. In addition to this, we are currently working with stakeholders towards a further programme of targeted actions focused on planning’s response to the housing emergency.

Productive places -

Enabling investment by improving planning systems and performance

This year we will:

• Establish Scotland’s first Planning Hub to build capacity and resilience, and to improve consistency and efficiency in decision‑making.
• Launch a planning apprenticeship programme to invest in new talent to create a pipeline of skilled future planners.
• Take forward a planning skills campaign to address the requirements of NPF4 and our ambitions for planning.
• Progress changes to planning fees which will move them towards full cost recovery for planning authorities and cost recovery for Scottish Government planning services.
• Work with the National Planning Improvement Champion to help reduce decision timescales and improve service quality.
• With the short life working group on proportionality, identify key issues for improvement and good practice and communicate these findings to stakeholders.
• Take forward a Planning Skills Commitment Plan, identifying gaps for priority action and increasing skills capacity through intense training and sharing of good practice.
• Introduce Inspirational Recruitment Days, in which we will invite future planners into our Planning, Architecture and Regeneration Division to hear about the breadth and impact of planning and encourage careers in planning.
• Support efficient progress towards the roll out of new LDPs across Scotland.
• Bring into force new regulations on masterplan consent areas (MCAs) and support early adopters of this important new tool, which will offer developers greater confidence through upfront consent provided by the planning authority.
• Bring into force new regulations on procedures for amending the NPF and LDPs to ensure flexibility of the planning system where needed.
• Collaborate with lead partners to assess and drive forward delivery of national developments.
• Facilitate PIPAG to identify solutions to challenges with planning and infrastructure delivery in a range of places.
• Consider options for an infrastructure levy, following on from engagements on a discussion paper held over summer 2024 .
• Develop a robust compulsory purchase reform package through engagement with the Practitioner Advisory Group and wider stakeholders, working towards a public consultation in 2025.
• Work with Planning Aid Scotland to scope out elected member training in advance of the 2027 local government elections, and building on the 2023 consultation on this issue.

Sustainable places -

Tackling net zero and the nature crisis by streamlining consenting

Delivery of policies 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 11, 22

This year we will:

• Work across the Scottish Government to improve the quality, consistency and pace of our consenting processes so that systems are quick, efficient and effective in enabling essential development to support net zero.
• Encourage use of MCAs, including to facilitate land-based elements of offshore wind and Green Freeports and addressing the need for additional housing.
• Produce guidance on planning and climate change.
• Produce guidance on planning and hydrogen.
• Produce guidance on biodiversity – version 2, incorporating work on a biodiversity metric.
• Support consistent application of Policy 11 relating to maximising economic impact from renewable energy development.
• Work with planning authorities, SEPA and the development sector to conclude work on applying policy 22 relating to flood risk.

Liveable places -

Responding to the housing emergency by working with partners

Delivery of policies 16 and 17

This year we will:

• Secure additional capacity in the planning system through a number of measures as set out above.
• Advise planning authorities on responding to the housing emergency.
• Assemble evidence on reasons for sites stalling, with a view to supporting delivery.
• Work with planning authorities to support the introduction of a pipeline of housing land in LDPs.
• Put measures in place for consistent housing land audits, including publication of new guidance, and support planning authorities and stakeholders to work together to produce annual audits.
• Agree supporting evidence on need and demand for new homes, working with the industry, planning authorities and analysts.
• Work with SMEs to better support them to deliver new homes.
• Encourage and support wider recognition of community benefit to be achieved from new housing developments.