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The planning system in Scotland is underpinned by the statutory development plan system, which sets out the planning policies for any given area against which planning applications will be assessed.
A number of recent planning consultations and announcements have detailed ways in which the Scottish Ministers intend to review the existing strategic planning system and implement a new system. Scottish Ministers have announced their intention to remove the requirement to have structure plans covering the whole of Scotland. These will be replaced by a framework of local development plans (LDPs) across the country, supplemented by four ‘city region plans’ covering the Glasgow, Dundee, Aberdeen and Edinburgh city regions.
The Development Plan in Scotland currently consists of structure plans and local plans. Development plan policies in Scotland are informed by the non-statutory National Planning Framework and guided by the series of Scottish Planning Policies (SPP), which are gradually replacing National Planning Policy Guidance (Scotland). Planning advice notes also exist on a range of issues to support planners in the Development Plan and control processes.
The proposed new city region plans and local development plans (LDPs) will be prepared on a similar basis to their predecessors, and will apply understanding and experience gained under the current system. Best practice and advice on the scope and content of development plan renewable energy policies can therefore be drawn from recent progress made under the present regime.
Structure plans represent sub-national interpretations of national planning policy and guidance. They set out the long-term vision and the anticipated scale and location of change, and are informed by the guidance contained within the National Planning Framework and the SPP. They provide the basis for the preparation of more detailed local plans.
Policy from the Scottish Executive on the purpose and preparation of structure plans is contained within the Scottish Planning Policy SPP1 – The Planning System (November 2002), and advice is contained in Planning Advice Note (PAN) 37 – Structure Planning.
Local plans provide detailed planning policy expanding on the relevant structure plan. They are informed by the guidance contained within the National Planning Framework and the Scottish Planning Guidance. They contain locality-specific detail, setting out the policies and guidance to aid developers with their development proposals. In future, LDPs will be prepared across the country. In the four largest cities, they will be required to conform to the new city region plans.
Policy from the Scottish Executive on the preparation of local plans can be found in the Scottish Planning Policy SPP1 – The Planning System, and advice is contained in Planning Advice Note (PAN) 49 – Local Planning.
Policy on the renewable energy content of structure plans is contained within National Planning Policy Guideline (Scotland) 6 (NPPG6) - Renewable Energy Developments, and advice is contained in Planning Advice Note (PAN) 45 – Renewable Energy Technologies.
National Planning Policy Guideline (Scotland) 6 (NPPG6) - Renewable Energy Developments confirms that development plan policies should:
