Latest - Planning and architecture

National Planning Framework 4

National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) is our national spatial strategy for Scotland. It sets out our spatial principles, regional priorities, national developments and national planning policy. It should be read as a whole and replaces NPF3 and Scottish Planning Policy.

Type: Strategy/plan
Date: 13 February 2023

Flexible planning rules

New measures to boost hospitality and town centre recovery.

Type: News
Date: 10 February 2023 09:25

Planning and environmental appeals: quarterly performance statistics

Quarterly performance statistics for Planning and Environmental Appeals.

Type: Transparency data
Date: 08 December 2022

Planning for net zero

A plan for future developments will help combat climate change.

Type: News
Date: 08 November 2022 15:15

National Planning Framework 4: explanatory report

This explanatory report accompanies our National Planning Framework 4 revised draft. It provides a summary of the representations made through our consultation on Draft National Planning Framework 4 and sets out the changes made in response to those reviews.

Type: Corporate report
Date: 08 November 2022

Chief Planner Letter: stakeholder update - July 2022

Planning Minister Tom Arthur and Chief Planner Fiona Simpson have written to update stakeholders on aspects of the work programme, heading into the summer recess period.

Type: Correspondence
Date: 01 July 2022

Planning Circular 2/2022 The Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications) (Scotland) Regulations 2022

This Circular provides guidance on the Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications) (Scotland) Regulations 2022 and replaces Circulars 1/2004 and 2/2013

Type: Advice and guidance
Date: 30 June 2022

Streamlining planning processes

Consultation proposes changes to boost economy and help net zero transition.

Type: News
Date: 11 May 2022 10:28

Improving planning processes

New measures to help improve application process.

Type: News
Date: 11 February 2022 14:05

Making our homes cleaner and greener

Scotland’s heat in buildings strategy published.

Type: News
Date: 07 October 2021 15:15

Planning circular 2/2021 - planning system - promotion and use of mediation: guidance

Planning circular 2/2021 provides guidance on the promotion and use of mediation in the Scottish planning system.

Type: Advice and guidance
Date: 21 July 2021

Fourth National Planning Framework - position statement: consultation analysis

Independent analysis of the responses to our consultation paper on Scotland’s Fourth National Planning Framework Position Statement which ran from 26 November 2020 to 19 February 2021.

Type: Consultation analysis
Date: 25 June 2021

Conflict avoidance - early intervention to avoid disputes: CPN 2/2021

This Construction Policy Note (CPN) confirms our support for the principle of avoiding conflict in construction contracts and urges other contracting authorities to align their construction procurement policy likewise.

Type: Advice and guidance

Planning performance statistics 2020/2021: quarterly (April 2020 to September 2020)

This report presents summary statistics on planning application decision-making timescales for April to September 2020, as well as historic data back to 2016/17. It is based on data collected from Local and Planning Authorities as part of the Planning Performance Framework (introduced in 2012).

Type: Statistics
Date: 26 January 2021

Digital strategy for planning: business and regulatory impact assessment

Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA) for Transforming Places Together - the digital strategy for planning in Scotland. The BRIA considers what the potential impact of the strategy may be businesses who are affected by it.

Type: Impact assessment
Date: 23 December 2020

Digital strategy for planning: equalities impact assessment

Equalities Impact Assessment (EQIA) results summary for Transforming Places Together - the digital strategy for planning in Scotland. The EQIA considers the impact of the strategy on the protected characteristics.

Type: Impact assessment
Date: 23 December 2020

Transforming Places Together: digital strategy for planning

This strategy defines a long-term strategic direction for how Scotland’s planning system will digitally transform, embracing the opportunities new digital technologies and data present. It sets out what we intend to deliver, why this is needed and the benefits this transformation will bring.

Type: Strategy/plan
Date: 26 November 2020

Transforming planning for the digital age

£35 million investment in technology.

Type: News
Date: 22 November 2020 00:01

Permitted development rights - phase 1 priority development types: consultation

Consultation on draft proposals for changes and extensions to Permitted Development Rights (PDR) in Scotland for the priority development types selected for inclusion in Phase 1 of our programme. Consultation closes on 12 November 2020.

Type: Consultation paper
Date: 01 October 2020

Healthier, greener town centres

Optimising town centres for the aftermath of COVID-19.

Type: News
Date: 01 July 2020 11:07

Parliament asked to back emergency Coronavirus Bill

New powers outlined for justice, public services and the economy

Type: News
Date: 31 March 2020 13:24

Tenants to be given extra protection

Emergency Scottish legislation in response to coronavirus.

Type: News
Date: 29 March 2020 16:01

Local development plans - deliverability of site allocations: research

Research considering the types of proportionate information that will demonstrate a development site’s deliverability.

Type: Research and analysis
Date: 21 February 2020

Planning performance and fees: consultation

Consultation on revising the planning performance and fees regimes.

Type: Consultation paper
Date: 18 December 2019

Construction phase handbook

Guidance for contracting authorities on the construction phase of a built asset project

Type: Advice and guidance
Date: 29 November 2019

Rural planning to be prioritised

Review into planning underway.

Type: News
Date: 05 November 2019 15:11

Reviewing and extending permitted development rights: consultation

Consultation on our proposed work programme for reviewing and extending permitted development rights in Scotland.

Type: Consultation paper
Date: 05 November 2019

Community-led design initiatives: evaluation

Findings from an evaluation of community–led design initiatives funded by the Scottish Government: the Charrette Mainstreaming Programme and the Making Places initiative.

Type: Research and analysis
Date: 11 October 2019

Planning: post-bill work programme

Our proposed timetable for implementing the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019 and taking forward other aspects of the reform of Scottish planning.

Type: Strategy/plan
Date: 30 September 2019

Building a zero carbon future

Climate change top of the agenda for new planning system.

Type: News
Date: 30 September 2019 00:01

Planning application decision times published

Official Statistics Publications for Scotland

Type: News
Date: 23 July 2019 09:41

Planning performance statistics: 2018-2019 yearend

Summary statistics on planning decision-making and timescales for October 2018 to March 2019 (quarters three and four), as well as historic data going back to quarter one of 2014-2015.

Type: Statistics
Date: 23 July 2019

Planning performance statistics: annual report 2018-2019

Annual statistics on planning decision-making and timescales for 2012-2013 to 2018-2019, based on quarterly data collected by the Scottish Government from Local and Planning Authorities as part of the Planning Performance Framework (introduced in 2012).

Type: Statistics
Date: 23 July 2019

Communities given more say in planning

Planning Bill supports a more inclusive and collaborative planning system.

Type: News
Date: 20 June 2019 17:38

Decrease in derelict and urban vacant land

A National Statistics Publication for Scotland.

Type: News
Date: 24 April 2019 10:00

Infrastructure Investment Plan 2015: progress report 2018-2019

Annual progress report on our Infrastructure Investment Plan outlines key achievements over the course of 2018 to 2019 and a sector by sector update on key infrastructure projects.

Type: Progress report
Date: 17 April 2019