RTPI's 'Ten Principles for NPF3'

The Royal Town Planning Institute in Scotland has recently published:

 'Ten Principles for the Third National Planning Framework'

The relevant web page begins;

'RTPI Scotland recently submitted some thinking to Scottish Government on the way forward for the 3^rd National Planning Framework (NPF3).  We wanted to keep this high level and constructive and so developed 10 principles we think need to be applied to document.  These are wide ranging but hopefully helpful in taking forward discussion on what the document should be doing, how it should be organised and how it fits with other strategies.'

The ten points taken from the text are:

1. NPF3 should be ambitious

2. NPF3 should prioritise.

3. NPF3 should be integrative.

4. NPF3 should be influential.

5. NPF3 should be clear and holistic

6. NPF 3 should focus on delivery.

7. NPF3 could be based around outcomes

8. NPF3 needs to be directly linked to the revised Scottish Planning Policy

9. There needs to be clarity on where NPF3 links with other policy, guidance, 

advice and good practice. 

10. NPF3 needs to be based on sound evidence and needs to be monitored to 
ensure it continues to be fit for purpose.

Elaborating on point 7 above, 'outcomes':


Initial thinking undertaken by RTPI Scotland has identified ten possible outcomes. 
These are: 

1. A sustainable Scotland – a country which lives within its environmental limits 
2. A liveable Scotland – a country which is an attractive place to live, work and 
visit 
3. An affordable Scotland – a country where people and communities can 
access the goods and services they need at a price they can afford 
4. A connected Scotland – a country where people, communities and
businesses can link with one another and with others outside of Scotland 
5. A resilient Scotland – a country which is adaptable and able to deal with 
short, medium and long term change 
6. A wealthy Scotland – a country where business, communities and people 
can thrive 
7. A healthy Scotland – a country which supports its people and communities to 
improve their wellbeing 
8. A fair Scotland – a country which has a just society aimed at improving the 
quality of life for all 
9. An inclusive Scotland – a country where people and communities are 
engaged in shaping the way it works 
10. An efficient Scotland – a country where its Institutions work individually and 
together, coherently, effectively, transparently and timeously 

Quite frankly I think outcome '9' , an 'Inclusive Scotland', can never be realised.  As the economic situation deteriorates further and choices become more difficult it is my belief that the planning system will submit totally to the overriding consideration that whoever has the money to develop will get to build, it won't matter what or where or what the strategy might be - because it will simply be a matter of getting someone to build something somewhere that somebody can afford to buy.  Simple economics.  

Of course, the above scenario  would jeopardise many of the other RTPI Scotland identified outcomes as well.