Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997

[F1 3A National Planning Framework S

(1) There is to be a spatial plan for Scotland to be known as the “National Planning Framework”.

(2) The National Planning Framework is to set out in broad terms how the Scottish Ministers consider that the development and use of land could and should occur.

(3) The National Planning Framework must contain—

(a) a strategy for Scotland's spatial development, and

(b) a statement of what the Scottish Ministers consider to be priorities for that development.

(4) The framework may—

(a) contain an account of such matters as the Scottish Ministers consider affect, or may come to affect, the development and use of land,

(b) describe—

(i) a development and designate it, or

(ii) a class of development and designate each development within that class,

a “national development”, and

(c) contain any other matter which the Scottish Ministers consider it appropriate to include.

(5) If the framework contains a designation under subsection (4)(b), the framework—

(a) must contain a statement by the Scottish Ministers of their reasons for considering that there is a need for the national development in question, and

(b) may contain a statement by the Scottish Ministers as regards other matters pertaining to that designation.

(6) The Scottish Ministers are to—

(a) prepare and publish the framework, and

(b) keep it under review.

(7) Within 5 years after publishing the framework under subsection (6)(a), the Scottish Ministers are either—

(a) to revise the framework, or

(b) to publish an explanation of why they have decided not to revise it.

(8) If the Scottish Ministers revise the framework, they are to publish it as revised.

(9) Within 5 years after publishing the framework under subsection (8) or an explanation either under paragraph (b) of subsection (7) or under paragraph (b) of this subsection, the Scottish Ministers are either—

(a) to revise the framework, or

(b) to publish an explanation of why they have decided not to revise it.

(10) The Scottish Ministers are to prepare and publish an account (in this Part referred to as their “ participation statement ”) of when consultation as regards the preparation or review of the framework is likely to take place and with whom and of its likely form and of the steps to be taken to involve the public at large in the preparation or review. ]

Textual Amendments

F1 Pt. 1A inserted (1.4.2007) by Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 17), ss. 1, 59(2); S.S.I. 2007/130, art. 2(2), sch.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 3A(3) modified (27.3.2011) by The Waste Management Licensing (Scotland) Regulations 2011 (S.S.I. 2011/228), reg. 1(1), sch. 4 para. 9 (with regs. 31-33)