Better Regulation: supporting economic growth and investment
This report is a review of regulation in key sectors in Scotland’s economy – housing, green industries and public infrastructure - to ensure that in the content and delivery of regulation there are no unnecessary impediments to growth and investment. It delivers against 2025 Programme for Government
3. Our Programme for Government commitment – assessing the regulatory environment in key growth sectors
The Scottish Government has identified housing, public infrastructure, and green industries as three strategic growth sectors, critical to Scotland’s economic prosperity.
These sectors underpin our ambition for a fairer, greener, and more resilient economy. They also represent areas with complex projects that interface with the breadth of Scotland’s regulatory landscape.
As part of the 2025 to 2026 Programme for Government, we have undertaken a targeted review of existing regulatory controls in these key growth sectors[3] to ensure they are fit for purpose – enabling businesses to invest, innovate and grow.
We sought to identify any specific regulations and regulatory practices that create barriers to investment with a view to reducing or removing obstacles while maintaining the intended regulatory outcomes. Beyond regulation, we welcomed feedback on associated governmental processes.
Our work was guided by extensive engagement with businesses, investors, and representative organisations in these priority areas (see Annex B). This provided valuable insights into how regulation is experienced in practice and highlighted opportunities for improvement to support investment and delivery.