Scottish Government

The consolidated SPP provides a shorter, clearer and more focused statement of national planning policy. The SPP and NPPG series has been replaced by a single SPP. As part of the commitment to proportionate and practical planning policies, the Scottish Government has rationalised national planning policy.

The SPP sets out:

• the Scottish Government's view of the purpose of planning,
• the core principles for the operation of the system and the objectives for key parts of the system,
• statutory guidance on sustainable development and planning under Section 3E of the Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006,
• concise subject planning policies, including the implications for development planning and development management, and
• the Scottish Government's expectations of the intended outcomes of the planning system.

Alongside policy on:

• development plans,
• development management,
• community engagement,
• sustainable development,
• climate change and
• sustainable economic growth,

the SPP sets out policy on :

• economic development,
• town centres and retailing,
• housing,
• rural development,
• fish farming,
• coastal planning,
• historic environment,
• landscape and natural heritage,
• open space and recreation,
• green belts,
• transport,
• renewable energy,
• flooding and drainage,
• waste management,
• minerals,
• onshore oil and gas operations,
• surface coal mining and
• communications infrastructure.

The SPP supersedes the following documents, which are now revoked:

SPP 2 - Economic Development, SPP 3 - Planning for Homes, SPP 4 - Planning for Minerals, SPP 6 - Renewable Energy, SPP 7 - Planning and Flooding, SPP 8 - Town Centres and Retailing, SPP 10 - Planning for Waste Management, SPP 11 - Open Space and Physical Activity, NPPG 12 - Skiing Developments, NPPG 13 - Coastal Planning, NPPG 14 - Natural Heritage, SPP 15 - Planning for Rural Development, SPP 16 - Opencast Coal, SPP 17 - Planning for Transport, NPPG 19 - Radio Telecommunications, SPP 20 - Role of Architecture and Design Scotland, SPP 21 - Green Belts, SPP 22 - Planning for Fish Farming, SPP 23 - Planning and the Historic Environment, Circular 12/1986 - Planning Control over Onshore Oil and Gas Operations, PAN 53 - Classifying the Coast for Planning Purposes.

For further information about the consolidated SPP, please contact Planning or telephone 0131 244 7888. If your query relates to a specific policy, please use the contacts list.