Planning and Infrastructure

The planning system is used to make decisions about the future development and use of land in our towns, cities and countryside. It considers where development should happen, where it should not and how development affects its surroundings.

Scottish Planning Policy sets out national planning policies which reflect Scottish Ministers’ priorities for operation of the planning system and for the development and use of land. The SPP sits alongside the following Scottish Government planning policy documents:

• The National Planning Framework, which provides a statutory framework for Scotland’s long-term spatial development;

• Creating Places, the policy statement on architecture and place;

• Designing Streets, which is a policy statement putting street design at the centre of placemaking; and

• Circulars which contain policy on the implementation of legislation or procedures.

Planning’s purpose is to create better places. Placemaking is a creative, collaborative process that includes design, development, renewal or regeneration of our urban or rural built environments.

The outcome should be sustainable, well-designed places and homes which meet people’s needs.

Primary responsibility for the delivery of the planning service in Scotland lies with the 32 local authorities and the two national park authorities. They prepare development plans for their area.

Decisions on planning applications are made in accordance with the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise.

While what may be a material consideration is very wide and depends on the context of each case, it may include the design of the proposed development and its relationship to its surroundings and legitimate public concern or support expressed on relevant planning matters.