National planning - Transport Policy and Planning in Great Britain - page 285

NATIONAL
TRANSPORT
STRATEGY

Strategic
Transport
Projects
Review

Scottish Executive
Transport Policy
Implementation

REGIONAL
TRANSPORT
STRATEGIES

LOCAL
TRANSPORT
STRATEGIES

Scottish Executive
Spending Review

Figure 17.3 The relationship of the National Transport Strategy to other planning instruments in
Scotland (source: after Scottish Executive 2006)

National spatial planning in Scotland

As in England and Wales statements of national policy were for many years confined
to National Planning Policy Guidelines, and more technical Advice Notes. NPPG17
(Scottish Office 1999) followed PPG13 south of the border in promoting integrated
land use/transport planning, and was later complemented by details of maximum
parking standards in new development (Scottish Executive 2003). (NPPGs, as they
come to be reviewed, are being retitled SPPs - Scottish Planning Policy.)
Following devolution a first National Planning Framework was produced, drawing
into a single document evidence on Scotland's development and the factors influencing
spatial change across the country (Scottish Executive 2004a). The motivation for
producing the Framework was generated both externally and internally (Lloyd and
Peel 2007). Externally it sought to promote Scotland's position as a nation within a
European context and to demonstrate its readiness as a recipient of EU Structural
Funding. Internally it was aimed at addressing regional disparities, including commuting
patterns, city-region building and political commitment to sustainable development.
The Framework offers a broad vision and non-statutory guide to enhance development
planning by local planning authorities and to influence spending priorities in transport
and other programmes.
The role of the Framework is being extended and given statutory status as part
of the overall reform of the Scottish Planning System, comparable in significance
(but different in content) to the 2004 Act in England. Proposals set out in a White
Paper (Scottish Executive 2005a) were legislated for in the Planning etc. (Scotland)
Act 2006. This requires the Framework to be approved by the Scottish Parliament
and reviewed at not more than five-yearly intervals. New arrangements are also
being introduced for the determination of applications for development of national
strategic importance (so-called 'national developments') which will include transport
infrastructure (Scottish Executive 2007a).