NPF4 call for ideas: analysis of responses - executive summary

Improving, protecting and strengthening the special character of our places

Special places that will need protection in the future

In terms of specific places thought to require protection, a suite of new national parks was proposed, including in Galloway and in the Borders. Consideration of a role for Coastal and Marine National Parks was also suggested. In addition, there were calls for greater protection for Scotland's most important wildlife sites, for ancient woodlands and for Ramsar sites - wetland sites designated to be of international importance.

It was argued NPF4 should retain or strengthen protection for Wild Land, although concerns were also raised that existing protections act as an effective bar to renewable energy development and that any further protection risks having a detrimental effect upon economic development and social sustainability in some areas.

Locally designated sites were argued important to both the sense of place of local communities and in attracting tourism, with UNESCO Biospheres given as examples of the type of sites that might be appropriate for local designation. It was suggested many of the landscapes most valued by local people in rural Scotland are designated as Local Landscape Areas or Special Landscape Areas, and that these should be given strong protection from damaging development in NPF4.

The potentially negative impact of high volumes of tourism was also highlighted and it was argued that the infrastructure to support tourism should be prioritised.

The future for rural, coastal and island communities

A balanced population profile with economically active people living in the area was identified as important to sustain rural communities. Housing, employment opportunities and infrastructure for transport, schools, shops, healthcare services, community facilities and digital connectivity were all suggested to be necessary.

With respect to coastal areas, the importance of integration between terrestrial and marine planning systems was highlighted. There were calls for coastal protection including for infrastructure to take account of sea level rise /storm surges and for an emphasis on safeguarding and enhancing coastal ecosystems and the natural protection services they can provide. However, it was also suggested that managed coastal retreats should be considered as the most sustainable approach in some places.

A one-size-fits-all approach to coastal planning policy was argued to be inappropriate for smaller islands where most land would be coastal in character. The need to island-proof NPF4 was also noted.

Unlocking the potential of vacant and derelict land

There were calls for a stronger commitment to unlocking the potential of vacant and derelict land. Adopting a brownfield first policy and strengthening the level of presumption in favour of brownfield development were both proposed while the potential for stimulating large-scale community renewal in some of Scotland's most deprived neighbourhoods was noted. In addition to providing opportunities for development including house building, it was argued Vacant and Derelict Land sites could provide scope for renewable energy generation or for green infrastructure including parks and allotments.

National Development status was suggested for co-ordination and delivery of priority brownfield sites and clear national targets for the reuse of derelict land were proposed.

What city and town centres might look like

It was suggested that town centres need to evolve away from their traditional retail role into hubs where a range of social, health, cultural and leisure activities are also concentrated. Increasing residential use was also thought likely and a requirement for improved public spaces for social interaction and activity was identified.

Green belts

Those who expressed a view on green belts often commented on their value or the need to protect them. There was sometimes a concern that the integrity of green belts is under threat, primarily from housing development and there were calls for green belt policy to be strengthened with use of brownfield sites prioritised.

An alternative perspective was that green belt policy needs to be reviewed and reconsidered or that, if a particular place or area needs to be protected for specific reasons, the use of a specific landscape designation would be more appropriate. It was argued that land that does not meet green belt objectives should be released for other uses, including specifically for the delivery of homes.

Views were mixed with respect to how prescriptive NPF4 should be in identifying the issues for planning authorities to consider when designating green belts and determining planning applications. Although existing guidance provided by SPP was suggested to be sufficient, it was also thought that more prescriptive advice could be provided in terms of assisting with the designation of green belts. Clarity about acceptable land uses within green belt areas was seen as particularly important.

Getting the most out of productive land

There were calls for a focus on food production, integration of food into the planning system and for greater protection for agricultural land. However, it was also argued that SPP goes too far in protection of agricultural land, especially with respect to land that is not of prime quality.

Protecting and restoring peatland

The important roles of peatland in sequestering and storing carbon, maintaining biodiversity and flood mitigation were all highlighted. However, there were differing perspectives on the priority that should be placed on preserving peatlands, with some respondents arguing that the climate emergency means protecting peatland should not be allowed to hinder the necessary increase in generation of renewable energy. Others thought protecting peatlands should be a National Priority or that there should be a presumption against the disturbance or removal of peatlands. There were calls for an end to commercial extraction of peat from viable or restorable peatland or from all peatlands.

Respondents also pointed to the importance of restoration of peatlands, with suggestions this should increase and that, where possible, peat-forming function should be restored.

Planning blue and green infrastructure

There were calls for a 'blue/green infrastructure first' approach in NPF4, and for blue and green infrastructure to run throughout planning policy in other areas. It was argued that blue/green infrastructure should be placed at the heart of new development and should be integral to a design-led approach. An emphasis on considering green infrastructure alongside basic requirements such as roads and drainage was advocated. There was also support for setting national standards including to ensure green infrastructure provision is applied consistently.

Attention was drawn to the importance of retrofitting green infrastructure and of enabling improvement to existing green infrastructure. The COVID-19 crisis was cited as an illustration of the importance of accessible green spaces to health and wellbeing, and the degree to which such access is limited for those living in some urban areas.

The importance of linking green spaces together to form green networks was also highlighted. These were argued important in reducing habitat fragmentation as well as providing longer distance opportunities for walking or cycling and in linking surrounding neighbourhoods with town centres.

What we can do to protect and enhance biodiversity

It was argued that, in a similar way to climate change, the importance of protecting and enhancing biodiversity should be integrated throughout NPF4. There was also strong support for applying the concept of biodiversity net gain to all development, and principles to guide its delivery were suggested.

Respondents pointed to the importance of woodlands and there were calls for creation of more woodlands, particularly of native species, in both upland and urban areas. The need to protect existing woodland was also highlighted and it was argued there should be stronger protection for ancient woodlands.

The importance of large areas and networks of habitat were also highlighted and there were calls for creation of a Scottish Nature Network as a National Development.

How we can strengthen the character and heritage of our many different places

Several respondents commented on the value of the historic environment to Scotland's sense of national identity and wellbeing. Others highlighted the contribution of the historic environment to a number of wider policy priorities and suggested it could be mainstreamed within planning policy. There was support for current policy approaches and also a suggestion that NPF4 policy on managing the historic environment should be aligned with Historic Environment Scotland's Historic Environment Policy for Scotland.