Very good reasons to keep up with what is going with the ' Third National Plan' and other reforms to planning policy

In the words of an RTPI representative*:

...Stephen Tucker, Chair of RTPI Scotland’s planning policy sub committee said,  

“Scottish Government deserves some credit for establishing a National Planning Framework for Scotland in the first place.  There are also signs that they have sought to incrementally improve the document with each edition. At the RTPI we hope that NPF3 will continue this process and perhaps for the first time, provide a long term physical vision for the country. If it does then we truly have a Plan Led system where the national plan provides the context for all development plans further down the tiers..” (APTSec highlight)


(*from the opening page of the Aug 2012 issue of 'Scottish Planner - The Journal of  RTPI Scotland' here)


So this plan, this 'Third National Planning Framework for Scotland' will be... 

THE BIG ONE 

...especially in the light of the all the planned reforms to the planning system in Scotland and the determination of the Local government and Planning Minister, Derek Mackay, to make these reforms a working reality.

What to do now

Why not do a little reading to familiarise yourself with what is about to take place - time has a habit of flying by.

A Participation Statement , published on line, sets out the publication timetable and forthcoming consultation opportunities.  NPF3 is due to be published by 25 June 2014, according to the document.

The Scottish Government has launched a call for Candidate National Developments - which is open until 14 December - to be considered for inclusion in the final NPF.  The selected developments must make a significant contribution to Scotland's sustainable economic growth and be of national, rather than regional, significance. They must also make a significant contribution to one or more specified criteria  including emissions reduction; renewable energy targets; skills development; strengthening Scotland's international links, and improving the country's digital, transport, utilities or green infrastructure networks.

Don't forget that anything that gets designated as a 'National Development' in the Third NPF will effectively be a 'shoe in' to  a Local Development Plan because the 'Need for such' will have been established through the National Plan.