Scotland 2045 - fourth National Planning Framework - draft - national developments: assessment report

Report of assessment for the draft national developments as part of Scotland 2045 Our Fourth National Planning Framework.


Annex D: Suggestions Not Thought to be Suitable for National Development Status

Name

Description of Suggestions Received

Suggestion titles (where grouped)

Assessment Summary

Tranent Expansion 2050

Tranent 2050 would include the delivery of c. 4,000 new homes alongside employment, new community and transport infrastructure, parkland and strategies for enhancements to the existing town which demonstrate how increases to quality of life can be achieved over the next 30 years.

 
  • Potential for positive effects on climate change / people / inclusive growth
  • Potentially inconsistent with spatial strategy
  • Sub-national impact

Shawfair

New residential, Town Centre and commercial centre with around 4,000 new homes, two primary schools, a secondary school and 1,000,000sq ft (93,000 m2) of commercial and retail space, Town Centre. One of seven strategic sites within the Edinburgh and South East Scotland region.

Call for Ideas:

Edinburgh and South East Scotland Major Area of Change Edinburgh, East Lothian and Midlothian Innovation zone. Edinburgh and South East Scotland Major Area of Change City Region Deal seven strategic sites: Shawfair

  • Potential for positive effects on people / inclusive growth
  • Sub-national impact
  • Relevant development consents already secured / construction advanced

Winchburgh

Mixed use expansion of Winchburgh to deliver residential, commercial, industrial, retail, school and leisure facilities, motorway junction and rail station and open space provision including a District and Town Park. Forms part of the South East Scotland seven strategic sites collectively providing 45,000 homes, 9,500 jobs and contributing £12.6bn to the economy.

Call for Ideas:

Mixed use expansion of Winchburgh, West Lothian

  • Potential for positive effects on people / inclusive growth / place
  • Sub-national impact
  • Relevant development consents already secured / construction advanced

Calderwood: Edinburgh and South East Scotland Major Area of Change

Blindwells; Calderwood; Dunfermline; Edinburgh's Waterfront; Shawfair; Tweedbank; and Winchburgh. Collectively these can deliver over 45,000 new homes, create 9,500 jobs and contribute over £12.6 billion to the wider economy. The sites are all at various stages of development and delivery, each with their own unique set of infrastructure and delivery challenges. Calderwood is a new village.

 
  • Potential for positive effects on people / inclusive growth
  • Potential for negative effects on climate change
  • Sub-national impact
  • Relevant development consents already secured / construction advanced

Dunfermline: Edinburgh and South East Scotland Major Area of Change

Blindwells; Calderwood; Dunfermline; Edinburgh's Waterfront; Shawfair; Tweedbank; and Winchburgh. Collectively these can deliver over 45,000 new homes, create 9,500 jobs and contribute over £12.6 billion to the wider economy. The sites are all at various stages of development and delivery, each with their own unique set of infrastructure and delivery challenges.

 
  • Potential for positive effects on people / inclusive growth
  • Potential for negative effects on climate change
  • Sub-national impact

Tweedbank

Blindwells; Calderwood; Dunfermline; Edinburgh's Waterfront; Shawfair; Tweedbank; and Winchburgh. Collectively these can deliver over 45,000 new homes, create 9,500 jobs and contribute over £12.6 billion to the wider economy. The sites are all at various stages of development and delivery, each with their own unique set of infrastructure and delivery challenges.

 
  • Potential for positive effects on people / inclusive growth
  • Potential for negative effects on climate change
  • Sub-national impact

EuroPark

The EuroPark development proposes the formation of a new mixed-use settlement to the north of the M8 at junction 7 and Eurocentral/Maxim. It will comprise approximately 2,600 new homes and a mix of retail/commercial space alongside a new country park, education and community/health facilities. EuroPark is an exceptional opportunity to integrate the planning of infrastructure and land use. The project could serve as an exemplar of what a 'zero emissions' place may look like in the future.

Position Statement:

EuroPark

  • Potential for positive effects on people / inclusive growth
  • Potential for negative effects on climate change
  • Potentially inconsistent with spatial strategy

Project Antonine

Project Antonine proposes 600 acres of new managed traditional woodland; a variety of renewable energy projects; 17 fully integrated and sustainable new developments of varying sizes; a network of new pathways and cycleways; energy centres, an electric bus route and a series of grow rooms and large scale community greenhouses.

Position Statement:

Project Antonine

  • Potential for positive effects on climate change / people / inclusive growth / place
  • Potentially inconsistent with spatial strategy
  • Sub-national impact

Northern Gateway

Mixed use development creating a Northern Gateway to Fife and the North, including Castlandhill Masterplan and Queensferry One Masterplan.

 
  • Potential for positive effects on people / place
  • Potential for negative effects on climate change
  • Potentially inconsistent with spatial strategy
  • Sub-national impact

Housing Target/High Quality Housing

Housing Policy and Delivery - delivering high quality homes to the national target.

Position Statement:

High Quality Housing

  • Potential for positive effects on people / inclusive growth
  • Broad strategy rather than specific project or development proposals

Smart Clachans

Development of mutually owned live/work space, land and resources in rural Scotland to enable people to remain, return and move to rural Scotland. Enables people to live, work, grow food, provide and receive support and care.

Is a post COVID-19 new approach to living focusing on community, place, wellbeing, local enterprise and climate friendly development. Will be models of community and housing, including mutual support approaches such as cohousing, collective self-build and mutual home ownership for cooperative living and community cohesion.

 
  • Potential for positive effects on people / inclusive growth
  • Sub-national impact
  • Broad strategy rather than specific project or development proposals

Elements Edinburgh

First phase of a planned redevelopment of brownfield land in West Edinburgh by Crosswind Developments. 65 acres of mixed use development with 2,500 homes, approx. 800,000 NIA sq.ft of commercial space, 1,000 hotel rooms and approx. 75,000 NIA sq.ft of leisure and retail with a 'Digital Quarter' at its heart.

 
  • Potential for positive effects on climate change / inclusive growth
  • Potential to influence live planning application

Glasgow – redevelopment of vacant and derelict land

Redevelopment of Vacant and Derelict Land

  • 3,428 hectares of vacant and derelict land
  • Half of planning authorities with the largest area of vacant and derelict land in Scotland are in the area
  • Productive uses sought
  • Fiscal measures/support sought

Position Statement:

Addressing vacant and derelict land

  • Potential for positive effects on people / inclusive growth / place
  • Broad strategy rather than specific project or development proposals

Ardersier Port – mixed use / energy / tourism / residential

Mixed use port and port related uses for the energy sector and general business, industrial, storage and distribution, research and development and/or residential tourism and leisure use.

 
  • Potential for positive effects on climate change / people / inclusive growth / place
  • Relevant development consents already secured

Industrial regeneration in Fife and the Scottish Borders

City Region Deal funding is being used to deliver programmes of investment that are strongly focused on innovation and that link to the Data Driven Innovation Programme. The locations chosen for investment are linked to existing growth corridors by road and by rail and help to maximise the impact of investment in the Borders Railway and plans for the Levenmouth Rail Link, as well as the existing Fife Circle rail line.

 
  • Potential for positive effects on people / inclusive growth
  • Broad strategy rather than specific project or development proposals

Bandeath Industrial Estate

Low carbon, net zero, 'independent food miles' development in Stirling:

  • River source heat pump, pump house, and pipe mains (with heat supply for off-site areas as well as onsite use)
  • Energy centre, heat pumps and Combined Heat and Power
  • Energy plant/hydrogen plant
  • Glasshouses and ancillary buildings
  • Rainwater Storage
  • Data centre
  • Aquaculture
  • Access road upgrade
  • Visitor centre
  • River access
  • Gas grid connection
  • National grid connection
  • Potential for a community owned energy services company (ESCO)
 
  • Potential for positive effects on people / inclusive growth / place
  • Sub-national impact

National Energy Research Demonstrator (NERD)

Centre of excellence and a suite of in the field demonstrator projects, aimed at transforming the way we generate, store and distribute energy.

 
  • Potential for positive effects on climate change
  • Sub-national impact

Guardbridge/ Cupar

North East Fife Major Area of Change. Including: University of St Andrews' Eden Campus; additional employment land in Cupar; rail track improvements focused on single line stretches and additional rail halts.

 
  • Potential for positive effects on climate change / inclusive growth
  • Significant uncertainty on interaction with the criteria

Scotland's National Environment Centre

Business development partnered with Stirling University focused on building the relationship between environmental management and businesses. To be developed in synergy with the National Aquaculture Technology and Innovation Hub.

Call for Ideas:

Business development focused on the relationship between environmental management and business. Development of Scotland's International Environment Centre in partnership with Stirling University and other partners and the creation of a larger supporting campus adjacent.

  • Potential for positive effects on inclusive growth
  • Significant uncertainty on interaction with the criteria

National Aquaculture Technology and Innovation Hub

UK's innovation community for sustainable aquatic food production. About the development and deployment of technologies and systems for aquaculture.

To be developed in parallel with Scotland's International Environment Centre.

 
  • Potential for positive effects on climate change / inclusive growth
  • Significant uncertainty on interaction with the criteria

Scotland's Living Laboratory

Creating recognition of Orkney as a centre of excellence.

Requires enabling infrastructure:

  • Innovation hub
  • Meeting places
  • Laboratories, workshops, studios
  • Offices
  • ICT capacity including data storage, connectivity and data management

Links to: blue economy; Arctic gateway/North West passage; Container trade via Scapa Flow; blue and green renewables; energy super grid for electrical and non-electrical sources; hydrogen cluster; carbon free energy hub.

 
  • Potential for positive effects on climate change / people / inclusive growth
  • Broad strategy rather than specific project or development proposals

Glasgow City Region economic sectors

Including Universities and the knowledge economy

 
  • Potential for positive effects on inclusive growth
  • Broad strategy rather than specific project or development proposals

Data Capital of Europe

Centre for data driven innovation – cluster based on Edinburgh University's city centre campus, Bayes Centre and Edinburgh Futures Institute.

 
  • Potential for positive effects on climate change / people / inclusive growth / place
  • Significant uncertainty on interaction with the criteria
  • Broad strategy rather than specific project or development proposals

Tourism Dispersal and Management

Ensure the visitor economy of the city region works as a single ecosystem, dispersing visitors from hot spots across the region, and into the rest of the country.

 
  • Significant uncertainty on interaction with the criteria
  • Broad strategy rather than specific project or development proposals

Sustainable Tourism Development Infrastructure Plan

Investment in the transport, interpretation, digital communications and waste management networks that ensure tourists enjoy a high quality of experience, whilst achieving the Scottish Government ambition for a net zero Scotland by 2045.

Elements including but not limited to:

  • Strategies for slow tourism, heritage tourism and eco tourism;
  • Enhanced/promoted active recreation routes including walking, cycling and water routes and sustainable travel to those routes;
  • Indoor facilities for tourists year-round
  • EV charging network in particular on tourist routes;
  • Year-round public toilet and campervan/motorhome servicing/waste disposal facilities at key locations.
  • Example New Zealand regenerative tourism including fiscal measures.

Also:

  • NC500 infrastructure
  • Great Glen infrastructure
  • Skye infrastructure
  • Affordable housing (reduced stock due to holiday lets/second homes)
  • Inverness Airport capacity
  • Fort William road network capacity
  • Visitor information facilities
  • Avoiding overwhelming destinations/attractions
  • Sustainable transport options

Position Statement:

Sustainable Tourism Development Infrastructure Plan

  • Potential for positive effects on people / inclusive growth / place
  • Significant uncertainty on interaction with the criteria
  • Broad strategy rather than specific project or development proposals

Office Market Dispersal, South East Scotland

Spreading the interest in office development from Edinburgh City Centre to less productive surrounding/regional areas.

 
  • Potential for positive effects on climate change / people / inclusive growth
  • Significant uncertainty on interaction with the criteria
  • Broad strategy rather than specific project or development proposals

Town Centres

Creating sustainable town centres with new economic purpose which help support resilient communities and environmental wellbeing.

Call for Ideas:

Edinburgh and South East Scotland Major Area of Change Town Centres. Town centres are central to our social, economic and environmental wellbeing. Now more than ever they are a readily recognisable fulcrum for action and a barometer of local resilience and progress.

Position Statement:

Improving Town Centres

  • Potential for positive effects on people / inclusive growth / place
  • Broad strategy rather than specific project or development proposals

Economic Growth in the Urban Core

Ensuring Edinburgh city centre has a public realm befitting Scotland's capital, and a supply of sites and premises to support economic growth at all scales, particularly for small and medium sized enterprises to scale up.

 
  • Potential for positive effects on inclusive growth / place
  • Sub-national impact

Orkney Harbours Masterplan Phase 1

Diversification and growth of existing harbour. Wish to see NPF4 retain support for projects in NPF3.

Key projects:

Kirkwall Pier: New Quayside, new marina, waterfront development, traffic management improvements, on-Quay facilities.

Hatston: New deep water quay and land reclamation for development.

Scapa Pier: Pier extension, dredging, reclamation of land, development of land, leisure berths.

Stromness: Quay improvements, marina expansion, cruise pontoon, improvements to shore side, traffic management improvements.

Lyness: New hardstanding (option rather than commitment at this stage).

 
  • Potential for positive effects on people / inclusive growth
  • Potential for negative effects on climate change
  • Sub-national impact

Freight Handling Capacity on the Forth

Continue existing national development

Call for Ideas:

Freight Handling Capacity on the Forth (2)

Position Statement:

Freight Handling Capacity on the Forth

  • Potential for positive effects on inclusive growth
  • Significant uncertainty on interaction with the criteria
  • Broad strategy rather than specific project or development proposals

Edinburgh Deep Water Cruise Berth

Deep water cruise berth to accommodate:

  • 400m vessels
  • Parking
  • Passenger facilities

Position Statement:

Edinburgh Deep Water Cruise Berth

  • Potential for positive effects on inclusive growth
  • Significant uncertainty on interaction with the criteria
  • Sub-national impact

Investment in vessels and infrastructure to support lifeline services

Replace ageing fleet and increase levels of service across routes to halt depopulation

 
  • Potential for positive effects on climate change / people / inclusive growth / place
  • Significant uncertainty on interaction with the criteria
  • Broad strategy rather than development proposals

Sail Tourism Orkney

Kirkwall, Stromness and other harbour locations around Orkney. Expand marinas in Kirkwall and Stromness and develop an Orkney-wide sailing strategy.

 
  • Potential for positive effects on inclusive growth
  • Sub-national impact
  • More akin to a broad strategy rather than specific project or development proposals

Rail Infrastructure Improvements

Rail infrastructure improvements for both passenger and freight transport. Including:

  • Additional stations/rail halts – including Inverness Airport Station, Evanton Station; Tomatin rail halt
  • Dual lining – including on the Highland Mainline
  • Additional freight sidings/connectivity- including Morayhill Freight Terminal
  • Lentran Long Loop
  • Dingwall/Invergordon new loop
  • Re-signalling of North Highland lines to Dingwall
  • Electrification/alternative traction for Highland Main Line, Far North Line, West Highland Line, Inverness to Aberdeen Lines as per Transport Scotland Rail Services Decarbonisation Action Plan

Call for Ideas:

Rail Infrastructure Improvements

  • Potential for positive effects on climate change / people / inclusive growth / place
  • Sub-national impact

Airport Enhancements

Continue the current national development, recognising the gateway role of airports. Include Highlands and Islands airports in recognition of the lifeline link and net zero aviation region ambition. Support for air links where rail is not an effective alternative. Includes: Aberdeen; Edinburgh; Glasgow; Inverness; Prestwick; Skye, develop Broadford airstrip into an Airport; Wick John O'Groats; Aircraft design innovation; Air Traffic Control enhancement

Call for Ideas:

Strategic Airport & Service Enhancements; Strategic Airport Enhancements (3)

Position Statement:

Strategic Airport and service enhancements; Strategic Connectivity Enhancements; Airport Enhancements; Strategic Airport Enhancements

  • Potential for positive effects on inclusive growth / place
  • Potentially inconsistent with spatial strategy
  • More akin to a broad strategy rather than specific project or development proposals

Small projects – big difference

Encouraging small scale sustainable transport projects across Scotland. National programme of rural transport enhancements

Position Statement:

Rural transport enhancements

  • Potential for positive effects on climate change / people / inclusive growth / place
  • Broad strategy rather than specific project or development proposals

Bus policy / infrastructure

Improvements to walking environment and other infrastructure linking to public transport

 
  • Potential for positive effects on climate change / people / inclusive growth / place
  • Broad strategy rather than specific project or development proposals

Walking environment

Promotion of walking and cycling in a number of localities taking a multi-intervention approach. Promotion of the redesign of streets and neighbourhoods to prioritise walking and cycling to create better places for people.

Focus on smaller / commuter towns with a concentrated multi intervention approach.

 
  • Potential for positive effects on climate change / people / inclusive growth / place
  • Broad strategy rather than specific project or development proposals

Heartlands Development Site, Whitburn Strategic Transport Hub

Strategic transport hub

 
  • Potential for positive effects on people / inclusive growth
  • Relevant development consents already secured
  • Could be operational before NPF4 is adopted

Alignment with Strategic Transport Projects Review

NPF4 must align with STPR2 and the National Transport Strategy

 
  • Potential for positive effects on climate change / people / inclusive growth / place
  • Broad strategy rather than specific project or development proposals

Glasgow City Region connectivity

Mass public transport

Regional cycling network

 
  • Potential for positive effects on climate change / people / inclusive growth / place
  • Broad strategy rather than specific project or development proposals

Training, community development and capacity building

Investment in transition skills training, community development and capacity building for transport planners and construction staff to support delivery of NPF4 - local authorities and Transport Scotland do not currently have the capacity to deliver the massively expanded network of walking and cycling routes, paths and related infrastructure that is required. This also offers opportunity for enhancing skills and capacity in communities.

 
  • Potential for positive effects on climate change / people / inclusive growth / place
  • Broad strategy rather than specific project or development proposals

Decentralised heat and energy network

Making use of waste heat, including a national exemplar of the Clyde Valley

Call for Ideas:

Heat Capture for Utilisation; Decentralised heat and energy network

Position Statement:

Renewable Heating and heat networks; Renewable Heat; Areas for piloting district heating systems

  • Potential for positive effects on climate change / people / inclusive growth
  • More akin to a broad strategy rather than specific project or development proposals

Retrofitting measures for warm homes

Retrofitting current housing stock for warm homes, with multiple benefits.

 
  • Potential for positive effects on climate change / people / inclusive growth / place
  • More akin to a broad strategy rather than specific project or development proposals
  • Permitted development rights that facilitate energy efficiency retrofit already in place

Regionally Important Facilities

New, replaced and improved regionally important strategic healthcare, sports and leisure, cultural, justice and educational facilities. These are facilities that benefit the region as a whole and beyond as well as enabling/supporting the delivery of a network of more local facilities across Highland as part of another proposed national development: Local Resilient Networks.

Including (not limited to):

  • Inverness Justice Centre (complete/open)
  • HMP Highland
  • NHS Highland Elective Care Centre (Under construction)
  • Belford Hospital replacement
  • Inverness Castle transformation

Position Statement:

Regionally Important Facilities

  • Potential for positive effects on climate change / people / inclusive growth / place
  • Some relevant development consents already secured / construction advanced for some elements
  • More akin to a broad strategy rather than specific project or development proposals beyond those already in progress

Local Resilient Networks

Local resilient networks for the production, added value processing, distribution and consumption of resources including local food, renewable energy generation and consumption, active travel, waste management and healthcare.

Supports delivery of resilient and self-sufficient communities that are sustainable and help deliver rural repopulation and the localism agenda.

Position Statement:

Local Resilient Networks

  • Potential for positive effects on climate change / people / inclusive growth / place
  • More akin to a broad strategy rather than specific project or development proposals

Coire Glas Hydro Pumped Storage

1,500 MW capacity, 30 GWH energy storage. Hydro pumped storage scheme based on the northern shore of Loch Lochy in the Great Glen of the Scottish Highlands.

 
  • Potential for positive effects on climate change / inclusive growth
  • Relevant development consents already secured

The land management, protection and restoration of our natural and bio-diversity assets

The use of resources for the delivery of carbon reduction. Including the protection and restoration of peatland and reforestation. National land-use strategy sought with regional priorities included.

Position Statement:

The Land and Water Management, Protection and Restoration of our Natural and Biodiversity Assets including our Peatland areas and Reforestation of Scotland

  • Potential for positive effects on climate change / people / inclusive growth / place
  • Broad strategy rather than specific project or development proposals

World Heritage Site for the Flow Country

Supporting the adoption and sustainable management of the Flow Country proposed World Heritage Site

Position Statement:

World Heritage Site for the Flow Country

  • Potential for positive effects on climate change / people / inclusive growth / place
  • Broad strategy rather than specific project or development proposals

National Parks

Create new National Parks: Seven areas identified in the APRS/Scottish Campaign for National Parks 2013 'Unfinished Business' report

Call for Ideas:

Suite of National Parks; Galloway National Park; Designation of more National Parks, including Galloway and the Borders, as one of its National Developments.

  • Potential for positive effects on people / inclusive growth / place
  • Broad strategy rather than specific project or development proposals

National Scenic Areas (management plans)

Preparation of Management Strategies for the remaining 33 National Scenic Areas.

Call for Ideas:

NSA Management Plans (2)

  • Potential for positive effects on people / inclusive growth / place
  • Broad strategy rather than specific project or development proposals

Regional Parks

Re-launch and creation of new regional parks. In collaboration with Central Scotland Green Network / potentially Ochils /Kilpatrick Hills

Call for Ideas:

Regional parks (2)

  • Potential for positive effects on people / place
  • Broad strategy rather than specific project or development proposals

Forestry planting

Initiative with multiple climate/health benefits, linked to Glasgow and Clyde Valley Green Network.

 
  • Potential for positive effects on climate change / people / inclusive growth / place
  • Broad strategy rather than specific project or development proposals

The Forth - A regional climate change response

The Forth unites the region and requires the region to act collectively to develop measures to mitigate the consequences of climate change on our collective coastline e.g. coastal erosion, rising sea levels, recreational uses and development potential and to protect, conserve and enhance the natural heritage assets there.

 
  • Potential for positive effects on people / inclusive growth / place
  • Broad strategy rather than specific project or development proposals

The Forth Bridges

Building on the Forth Bridges partnership to drive growth across the World Heritage site.

 
  • Significant uncertainty on interaction with the criteria
  • Broad strategy rather than specific project or development proposals

World Heritage Site Gateway for Orkney

Strategic development to enable a sustainable tourism economy with focused investment to address negative impacts of high-volume tourism, increase economic return and cultural benefits for island communities.

Elements include:

Orientation Centre (dedicated facility for information, interpretation, orientation, vehicle parking, EV charging, bike/e-bike facilities, zero carbon shuttle to monuments/settlements, active travel network to the monuments)

Position Statement:

New

  • Potential for positive effects on climate change / people / inclusive growth / place
  • Sub-national impact

Argyll and Bute Western Seaboard

Supporting coastal zone economic opportunities, including:

  • Additional research facilities
  • Pontoons and landing facilities for leisure craft
  • deep water accessible laydown areas for storage and fabrication
  • temporary/mobile residential accommodation for construction workers

Position Statement:

New

  • Potential for positive effects on people / inclusive growth
  • Potential for negative effects on climate change
  • Sub-national impact
  • More akin to a broad strategy rather than specific project or development proposals

Helensburgh and Lomond Growth Area

New housing /commercial /industrial development

Position Statement:

New

  • Potential for positive effects on people / inclusive growth
  • Potential for negative effects on climate change
  • Sub-national impact
  • More akin to a broad strategy rather than specific project or development proposals

Tobermory, Oban, Dalmally corridor Growth Area

Employment opportunities

Position Statement:

New

  • Potential for positive effects on people / inclusive growth / place
  • Potential for negative effects on climate change
  • Significant uncertainty on interaction with the criteria
  • Sub-national impact
  • More akin to a broad strategy rather than specific project or development proposals

Contact

Email: scotplan@gov.scot

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