Why am I so 'worked up' over NPF?

Just in case you are wondering why I am getting 'worked up' re getting involved in the consultations for  the Third National Planning Framework, here are some important points extracted from the Scottish Government web pages  - at the link here

(Developments in the A96 Corridor were put forward by Highland Council and included in NPF2 as 'spatial perspectives'.  I believe, for some very complex reasons which I will not go into at this time,  that this inclusion had a profound effect on local democracy)

What is NPF3?

The National Planning Framework (NPF) sits at the top of the hierarchy of Scottish development plans.  Once published in June 2014, NPF3 will set out the Scottish Government's strategic development priorities over the next 20-30 years.  It can designate ‘national developments’.

What does being a national development mean?

The NPF is used to identify certain projects as “national developments”.  National developments are essential to Scotland's strategic spatial development. Major strategic transport, water and drainage and waste management infrastructure projects may fall within this category of development. 

Many of these will already have been the subject of consultation and debate as part of the development of other strategies and programmes.  Identification in the NPF should be the mechanism for establishing the need for such developments.  The purpose of the designation is to facilitate the developments through the consenting process.

What are the implications for my local authority’s decision making?

On a strategic level, development plans will be required to accord with NPF3.

Where a planning application is required for a national development, there are some additional steps in the planning process.  These are:

• there must be pre-application consultation, including with the local community;
• the local authority must hold a pre-determination hearing; and
• the authority’s decision on the application must be made by the full council

When and how can I get involved?

See details at link here