The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) has welcomed the publication by the Scottish Government of the National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) Position Statement.
The document sets out the Government’s thinking on the issues that will need to be addressed when preparing NPF4, with a particular focus on net zero emissions, resilient communities, a wellbeing economy and better, greener places.
Irene Beautyman, Convenor of RTPI Scotland, said she was pleased the Government had taken on board many of the recommendations put forward by the Institute in its 10 Big Ideas for NPF4 paper, which are all underpinned by the Institute’s Plan the World We Need campaign.
She said: “The National Planning Framework has the potential to help transform Scotland. The position paper published by the Scottish Government is a very promising foundation for this and shows how planning can support a sustainable and equitable green economic recovery that delivers the new normal we need post-Covid.
“I am delighted the Government has included so many of the RTPI’s recommendation in this document, including prioritising planning for the net zero carbon target by 2045, putting people’s health and wellbeing at the heart of the planning system and prioritising active and sustainable travel.”
She also welcomed proposals to better link the NPF with other strategies and the Infrastructure Investment Programme but said she would like to see this developed further to ensure that NPF4 is accompanied by a 10-year capital investment programme to enable the vision to be delivered on the ground with clear, trackable milestones.
Ms Beautyman praised the inclusive approach so far adopted by the Scottish Government in working towards NPF4 and said the RTPI looked forward to further engaging.
