The Fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4) was adopted by Scottish Ministers on 13 February 2023, following approval by the Scottish Parliament in January. It is "a spatial plan for Scotland to 2045", setting out where development and infrastructure is "needed". It replaces Strategic Development Plans, and Local Development Plans will have to be drawn up and interpreted in its light. While of course the scope of NPF4 is very wide, and some issues (especially housing) may be seen as more pressing and contentious than others, NEMT members may like a quick account of the current position as it relates to their interests. The full 162pp document is available at gov.scot/publications/national-planning-framework-4/
Compared to the 2014 NPF3, NPF4 will have "increased status" as a "material consideration" in planning applications, with "themes" relating to the sustainability, liveability, productivity and distinctiveness of "places", and six "overarching spatial principles":
The 33 NPF4 "Policies" range from "Tackling the global climate and nature crises", through those for biodiversity, "natural asset" management, "rural homes", and tourism. Bodies such as the John Muir Trust and Scottish Environment LINK have welcomed the continued recognition of Wild Land Areas, and the high-level focus on reversing biodiversity loss and protecting and expanding woodland. However, they are concerned about the 'vague language' around 'renewable energy targets'.
As regards Policy 3, on biodiversity, SE LINK points out that "although 'nature networks' are frequently mentioned, NatureScot has yet to develop a national framework setting a clear vision, principles and approach for their local delivery".
Policy 4, for "Natural Places", includes:
"g) Development proposals in areas identified as wild land in the Nature Scot Wild Land Areas map will only be supported where the proposal:
All such proposals must be accompanied by a wild land impact assessment which sets out how design, siting, or other mitigation measures have been and will be used to minimise significant impacts on the qualities of the wild land, as well as any management and monitoring arrangements where appropriate. Buffer zones around wild land will not be applied, and effects of development outwith wild land areas will not be a significant consideration."
Policy 11, on energy, includes support for "wind farms including repowering, extending, expanding and extending the life of existing wind farms; enabling works" etc. A recent Scottish Parliamentary Answer (ref. S6W-11550) was that "There are no plans for setting geographic limits on the concentration of wind farms", but NPF4 states that "Development proposals for wind farms in National Parks and National Scenic Areas will not be supported." Nick Kempe, in his ParksWatchScotland blogsite, notes that this "only refers to windfarms. The implication therefore is that planning applications for pumped storage schemes [which as "national developments" will be decided upon by the Scottish Government, not the local planning authority] could be given the go-ahead in both National Parks and NSAs". The scheme proposed for Lochan na h'Earba above Loch Laggan is "only" in a Wild Land Area, where an impact assessment will be required. [NB: another of the 18 "National developments" is the "National Walking, Cycling and Wheeling Network".]
Policy 29, on rural development includes: "(d) Development proposals that support the resettlement of previously inhabited areas will be supported where the proposal: (i) is in an area identified in the LDP as suitable for resettlement; (ii) is designed to a high standard; (iii) responds to their rural location; and (iv) is designed to minimise greenhouse gas emissions as far as possible."
Within the "National Spatial Strategy", the Cairngorms are split - without a definite boundary - between the "North" and "North East" regions of Scotland (two of the five), with most of the NPF4 text focussed on the larger settlements and on "national developments". Within the "North", "Landscape-scale solutions to build resilience to climate change, to manage sustainable tourism and outdoor access, and a commitment to reversing biodiversity decline and increasing woodland expansion and peatland restoration, are all key priorities. Demand for development, including in pressured areas, will require a planned response to minimise the impact of second homes on local communities and ensure new homes are affordable and meet local needs". For the "North East", the text focusses on the energy transition, with little attention to the more rural areas of the region, eg no mention of Deeside or its settlements (whereas in the North, Aviemore and Grantown-on-Spey are mentioned as "key settlements").
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