Planning, Infrastructure and Place Advisory Group: terms of reference

National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) was adopted by the Scottish Ministers and published on 13 February 2023, following approval by the Scottish Parliament on 11 January 2023. Published alongside NPF4, the Delivery Programme demonstrates the clear ambition to deliver on NPF4and how it will be implemented by all relevant stakeholders. 

Planning, infrastructure and place are clearly interdependent. Recognising this, the Delivery Programme commits to establishing a new Planning, Infrastructure and Place Advisory Group (PIPAG) which will play a critical role in supporting collaboration, alignment and delivery. 

Scope

Being clear from the beginning what success will look like for PIPAG will provide a framework to measure and assess priorities and progress. This requires considering its purpose and objectives, as well as key areas for collaborative working.   

The strategic purpose of the group is to support joined-up, timeous, place-based delivery of development and infrastructure in Scotland based on best evidence in order to achieve Scotland’s ambitions for a wellbeing economy.

Its objectives are to:

• advise on the delivery of National Planning Framework 4
• provide strategic input to the development of the next infrastructure investment plan
• advise on prioritisation and targeting of public and private investment to optimise outcomes and achieve place-based transformational change and identify gaps in funding and finance
• guide improved alignment and integration of place-based and spatial approaches in public and private sector decision-making
• demonstrate what good infrastructure delivery looks like and promote innovation and best practice

To achieve this, the group will:

• review progress in delivering the spatial strategy, National Developments and national planning policy set out in NPF4
• visibly champion delivery and challenge decision-makers to consider new ways of working, in the spirit of public service reform
• identify issues and blockers to development, regeneration and implementation of an infrastructure first approach in practice
• identify, explore and share solutions and scope for innovation to overcome barriers to development and infrastructure delivery, including by applying the Place Principle in practice
• reflect on the impacts and opportunities arising from wider change, including the implications of wider Scottish Government policy and programmes as they evolve

Definition of infrastructure

Infrastructure is: “The physical and technical facilities, natural and other fundamental systems necessary for the economy to function and to enable, sustain or enhance societal living conditions. These include the networks, connections and storage relating to the enabling infrastructure of transport, energy, water, telecoms, digital and internet, to permit the ready movement of people, goods and services. They include the built environment of housing; public infrastructure such as education, health, justice and cultural facilities; safety enhancement such as waste management or flood prevention; natural assets and networks that supply ecosystem services and public services such as emergency services and resilience.”  (Infrastructure Investment Plan for Scotland 2021-22 to 2025-26).

For the purposes of applying the Infrastructure First policy in NPF4, the following meaning of infrastructure will apply: 

• communications – including digital and telecommunications networks and connections
• existing and planned transport infrastructure and services
• water management – supply, drainage systems and sewerage - including flood risk management
• energy supplies/energy generation – including electricity and heat networks, distribution and transmission electricity grid networks, and gas supplies
• health and social care services – including both services provided in the community directly by Health Boards and services provided on their behalf by contractors such as GPs, dentists and pharmacists
• education – including early years, primary, secondary, further and higher education services
• green and blue infrastructure
• spaces for play and recreation

Governance and structure 

Chair and Secretariat

The group will initially be co-chaired by Fiona Simpson, Chief Planner and Director of Planning Architecture & Regeneration Division, and Tony Rose, Director of Strategy, Place & Economy, Scottish Futures Trust. Chairing will be held under review as the programme develops, with potential for rotation to involve other directly relevant senior officials as appropriate. 

SG and SFT will jointly resource a secretariat to organise meetings, co-ordinate reporting and any other administrative duties. This support will extend to appropriate workstreams as needed. Members are expected to be available to support targeted and specific activity in between meetings and at times lead on or support the drafting of meeting papers. 

Membership

The group has intentionally been established with a smaller core group of members, supported by a larger reference group. The core group members have been invited in a personal capacity based on expertise. The reference group includes representative from a wide range of organisations who have a direct role and/or experience of infrastructure delivery.  

Depending on the breadth of the programme of activities, additional short-life groups or time-limited membership may allow the work of the group to explore specific issues in more detail - a ‘core and hub’ approach to delivery. Where a short life working group is required to take forward more detailed and wide-ranging work, the core group will consider the appropriate make up of working groups, likely to be drawn from the reference group.

The Group will engage with additional stakeholders as required and will invite others to participate in the reference group as and when gaps are identified. 

Meeting schedule

The group will meet quarterly, with workplan activities progressing, including through smaller / extended / subject-focused sub-groups between meetings as needed. The group will aim to meet in person where possible, and meetings may include themed site visits to prompt discussion and use experience to develop a better understanding and possible solutions. 

The Group is expected to operate to 2025-26 to align with the next Infrastructure Investment Plan.

Reporting

Reporting will be lean and purposeful. 

The Secretariat will ensure the reference group are kept up to date with the core group activities and vice versa. The Secretariat will ensure that the groups activities are transparent, providing updates online.

The Secretariat will also draw upon the group’s activities to provide regular reports to relevant Cabinet Secretaries and Ministers (recognising the work extends across a number of portfolios). Outputs will also be shared with relevant senior officials across the Scottish Government including through existing and future internal SG Boards and external groups as appropriate. Boards and external groups could include those relating to land use, infrastructure, transport, energy, housing, construction and place policy development.