Why is this National Outcome important?
Well-designed, sustainable places, both urban and rural, support people's physical and mental wellbeing. They are places in which people want to live. They provide ease of access to the workplaces and services we need by locating these conveniently with high quality housing as part of a mixed community. Communities, providing a range of services, housing types and people, promote interaction and integration - and create positive, diverse neighbourhoods. They are places designed around people, not cars, encouraging creative activity and social interaction by providing easy access to both cultural amenities and green space. They improve safety by increasing the number of people who use local facilities and generate a real sense of community. And they are sustainable places - environmentally, socially, physically and economically.
Well-designed, sustainable places also contribute to sustainable economic growth - our reputation for high quality urban and rural environments is an important factor in attracting and retaining people with the skills and talent we need to build a successful Scotland. Improved transport and telecommunications connections will make Scotland more attractive to business and enhance its attractiveness as a place to live and work. And the promotion of more sustainable modes of transport will cut emissions and improve air quality.
What will influence this National Outcome?
The development of well-designed, sustainable places will only happen through effective partnerships - between central and local government, and between the public, private and third sectors (including charities, voluntary and local community groups). And most crucially with the individuals who live in those places and keep them vibrant. Government must create the right environment for investment and increased housing supply; taking targeted action in the most disadvantaged communities and devolving power to the local level so that communities can have more influence and ownership. Community Planning Partnerships have a key role to play. Working together it will be possible to support sustainable communities, which will include providing the right supply of housing to rent and buy.
The planning and building standards systems have a role to play in delivering high quality buildings and infrastructure with better environmental standards. But we must challenge everyone involved in development to drive up standards for planning, design and maintenance of the built and natural environment. In working together we must all be mindful of the unavoidable consequences of climate change and ensure that we develop sustainable communities which are sympathetic to Scotland's landscape and the environment we face - and are likely to face in the coming years.
The role of individuals in bringing places to life cannot be underestimated. Design and infrastructure will only take us so far. Choices we all take about how we travel, what services we use and what we put back into our local communities will have a huge bearing on what we get out of them.
What is the Government's role?
We are committed to creating successful, sustainable communities across Scotland. To do so we will need to work in a broad partnership with developers, local authorities and local communities to deliver a range of economic, physical, social and environmental improvements. We will ensure housing policy supports sustainable economic growth and will work with local authorities, developers and builders to increase the number of new homes. By increasing the supply of good quality, affordable housing we will meet the current and future needs of Scotland, allowing labour to move effectively and creating sustainable communities in which people can live full and productive lives. We will continue to develop innovative new programmes to make the most effective and efficient use of public money to deliver on the commitment of 30,000 affordable homes over the course of the current parliament, with two thirds of these homes being for social rent. Alongside the development of new homes we will develop a Strategy for Sustainable Housing in Scotland to set out our vision for high quality, warm, low carbon homes, including action to retrofit existing homes to become more energy efficient to tackle fuel poverty and contribute to emissions targets.
We will take action through our Regeneration Strategy and in partnership with our stakeholders to strengthen Scotland's communities, providing additional support to the places and people that need it, tackling deprivation and disadvantage and creating opportunities for all of Scotland to flourish.
We will ensure that planning policy encourages the development of sustainable, mixed communities - drawing together the various elements required to achieve that goal. And our emphasis on preventing homelessness will be maintained, by working with local government to ensure that all unintentionally homeless households have an entitlement to settled accommodation by 2012.
While new development is crucial, we are not interested in development at any cost - our buildings and infrastructure of the future must be sustainable - respecting the needs of the environment while being well-placed to cope with its future demands. We will lead the way by delivering increasingly high standards of environmental performance and design as we refurbish the public sector estate. In partnership with local government and key service providers we will improve the quality, accessibility and affordability of public transport - with significant investment in infrastructure. We will ensure Scottish Water provides connections to all new developments and improves the quality of drinking water and the environment. And we will lead the way in ensuring that developments make sense in the longer term, by encouraging a more sustainable approach to flood risk management.
Related Strategic Objectives
Safer and Stronger
Greener
Related National Indicators
Improve digital infrastructure
Reduce traffic congestion
Improve support for people with care needs
Reduce the number of individuals with problem drug use
Reduce deaths on Scotland's roads
Improve people's perceptions of the quality of public services
Improve the responsiveness of public services
Improve access to suitable housing options for those in housing need
Increase the number of new homes
Widen use of the Internet
Improve people's perceptions of their neighbourhood
Improve the state of Scotland's historic sites
Reduce Scotland's carbon footprint
Increase the proportion of journeys to work made by public or active transport