Scotland 2045: fourth National Planning Framework - draft: society and equalities impact assessment

2. Assessment findings

2.1 Summary of assessment findings

Planning is concerned with the creation of better places. The purpose of planning is to manage the development and use of land in the long term public interest. The Scottish Government recognises that the impacts of the policies in the Draft NPF4 have the potential to fall differentially on different groups in society. The evidence would suggest that women, people with disabilities, older people, children and young people and Black and Minority Ethnic groups for example, experience a variety of challenges in both engaging with the planning system, and having the system meet their needs. Levels of perceived influence over local decision making have been consistently low over recent years, and across all subgroups of the population.

Around four per cent of people in Scotland are from minority ethnic groups - council areas with large cities have the highest proportion of their population from a minority ethnic group. People from minority ethnic (non-white) groups are more likely to be in relative poverty after housing costs, compared to those from the 'White - British' group. Just over half of Scotland's population identifies as following a Christian Religion. Scotland's communities of identity are important and more needs to be done to tackle the inequalities faced by them.

Approximately 19% of Scotland's population lives in relative poverty after housing costs. Some types of households with children are known to be at a particularly high risk of poverty. These include households with single parents, three or more children, disabled household members, of a minority ethnic background, with a child aged under one, or a mother aged under 25. The Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation is the Scottish Government's official tool to identify areas of multiple deprivation in Scotland, with the most deprived areas located predominantly in cities and towns.

Improving equality and eliminating discrimination across Scotland is another of the six high level outcomes of NPF4.

Both the Equality Impact Assessment and the Child Rights and Wellbeing Assessment consider key areas such as: participation, housing and accommodation, spaces and places, connectivity and health and wellbeing. The EQIA also considers issues around human rights.

Planning should respect, protect and fulfil human rights, seek to eliminate discrimination and promote equality. The focus proposed in Draft NPF4 on engagement is for parties to have a responsibility to consult and engage others collaboratively, meaningfully and proportionately.

The draft spatial strategy recognises that our future places, homes and neighbourhoods will be better, healthier and more vibrant places to live. Direct benefits could help us to be healthy and active, creative and diverse, so that people grow up loved, safe and respected, and realise their full potential. Draft NPF4 also recognises the important role that planning can play in tackling some of the drivers of child poverty.

Draft NPF4 also includes land use planning policies on key issues supporting island communities' lives such as: engagement, local living, housing, spaces and places, rural and coastal policies, health and wellbeing and connectivity.

Scotland's north and west coast and islands have been identified as being at the forefront of our efforts to reach the Scottish Government's target of net zero emissions by 2045. Draft NPF4 provides for a specific spatial strategy which recognises the diversity of this area, from Shetland and Orkney in the north, to the Outer and Inner Hebrides and the coastal areas of Argyll and Bute and Highland. It also includes a proposed national development focussing on the norther and western isles of an Islands Hub for Net Zero.

From the evidence set out so far, the main potential issues for island communities appear to be a lack of:

• support for young people to remain, move or return to the islands;
• employment, training and higher education opportunities;
• access and affordability to transport;
• a variety of housing types, sizes and tenures to meet people's needs and a lack of affordable housing;
• speed and reliability of internet/phone connections;
• influence over decisions made by local and national government; and
• adequate infrastructure for the number of tourists attracted to the islands.

NPF4 will seek to tackle these issues through the spatial strategy and thematic policies while providing flexibility at the local development plan stage for local and specific island circumstances to be recognised.

Improving the health and wellbeing of the people of Scotland is one of the six high level outcomes of the Draft NPF4. Planning and places play a crucial role in supporting health and physical activity, for example with the Scottish Government's support for 20 Minute Neighbourhoods, high quality greenspace, active travel and in managing access to food, food production, community growing, etc.

Planning and places play a crucial role in supporting health and physical activity. On a range of indicators people who live in deprived areas are faring worse than those in less deprived areas, these include being: less likely to have access to greenspace; made visits to the outdoors; or living within 500 metres of vacant and derelict land and properties. Approximately 30 per cent of adults report having a long-term physical or mental health condition.

Societal challenges include long standing inequalities, including for health and wellbeing. The COVID-19 pandemic has left a complex and far reaching social legacy. The pandemic has affected people's mental health, with women, young people and young carers, minority ethnic groups and those with an existing health diagnosis reporting greater impacts. Existing job market inequalities have been reinforced with women, disabled people and minority ethnic people (particularly minority ethnic women) facing persistent employment and pay gaps. Those in precarious employment, carers and lone parents, the majority of whom are women, have also experienced disproportionate impacts.

The focus provided in the Draft NPF4 to address the climate emergency and nature crisis, should also lead to health and wellbeing improvements, both physical and mental, and to resilient communities. For example, through supporting a transition to renewable and low carbon energy generation, high quality green and open spaces and consideration to the increased risks of climate change, such as flooding and sea level rise.

Outdoor spaces for play, sport and recreation can make a significant contribution towards creating more liveable and healthier places and are important for physical and mental health and overall wellbeing. For example, children experience a range of health, wellbeing and educational benefits from outdoor play, and learning in, and connecting with nature. Direct benefits could arise where a key consideration of the planning system is infrastructure to meet the diverse needs of the population or an area, for example, improved availability and access to health and social care facilities. Wider benefits could also arise from improved levels of social interaction and sense of place. Potential benefits should also arise where multiple benefits are achieved. For example, a new focus on the prioritisation and re-use of vacant and derelict land and properties, could also support the wider ambitions of Draft NPF4, to support improved community resilience, town centre regeneration, habitat enhancement and reduce pressure on natural resources.

Providing quality opportunities for children of all ages to play will benefit their physical and cognitive development, and uphold their right to engage in play and recreational activities. The planning system should support development that expands opportunities for play in the public realm and in a range of different types of open and green spaces, and which addresses unequal access to play spaces and facilities.

The Draft NPF4 also includes a proposed policy which does not support development proposals where significant adverse health effects are likely to occur. It also proposes that a health impact assessment will be required for all proposed development that is considered likely to generate significant health effects or is within the categories of national developments, or major developments, or is development subject to Environmental Impact Assessment. Development proposals that would have a significant adverse effect on air quality would also not be supported through proposed draft policy.

In response to issues around food deserts, and lack of access to healthy food especially in some deprived areas, Draft NPF4 contains a new policy on neighbourhood shopping. Draft NPF4 highlights consideration should be given to where a retail proposal will alleviate a lack of convenience goods/fresh healthier food and drink provision, especially in disadvantaged or remoter areas.