LINK Briefing: National Planning Framework 3 and the Scottish Planning Policy

LINK broadly supports both consultation documents on SPP and NPF3. The SPP should require planning authorities to give significant weight to SNH’s Strategic Locational Guidance for Onshore Wind when making planning decisions. The new SPP should make it clear that unconventional gas extraction projects should not be consented unless environmental, health and climate concerns can be fully addressed. The NPF should make it clear that national development status does not establish the need for development at specific locations where this is not clearly defined in the NPF. NPF3 should include a commitment to progress proposals for new national parks. National development status should be given to a National Ecological Network for Scotland