MSPs approve ‘national planning framework’ proposal

MEMBERS of the Scottish Parliament have voted to approve a revised draft national planning framework, which will inform how planning is conducted across the country for decades to come.

Yesterday, the vote was 88-for, 30-against and one abstention for a motion presented by the framework’s sponsor, Tom Arthur MSP, Minister for Public Finance, Planning and Community Wealth.

A revised draft of what will be the fourth edition of the framework was presented to parliament by Arthur in November – here.

The framework is titled: a ‘national spatial strategy for Scotland [until] 2045’. Arthur describes the strategy as “[setting] out how we will work together in the coming years to improve people’s lives by making sustainable, liveable and productive places… putting the twin global climate and nature crises at the heart of our vision for a future Scotland”.

The minister’s motion read, here: “That the parliament gives its approval, as required by section 3CA(1) of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997, to the draft revised National Planning Framework 4 laid in the parliament by the Scottish Government on 8 November 2022, enabling the Scottish ministers to proceed to adopt and publish the framework in accordance with the provisions of that Act.”

The minutes of the parliamentary debate can be read, here.

Picture credit: Place Design Scotland