Planning and Architecture
National Planning Framework 4 Policy Overviews 1 to 11
January 29, 2026 by planningarchitecture No Comments | Category Green Spaces, Housing & Infrastructure, National Planning Framework, Planning, Stakeholder Engagement
NPF4 Policy overviews
We have collated over three blogs, overviews of advice and guidance available for each of the 33 policies contained in National Planning Framework 4.
The blogs contain the following policy split.
- blog 1 – policy 1 to 11
- blog 2 – policy 2 to 22
- blog 3 – policy 23 to 33
These overviews are a mix of Scottish Government produced advice alongside that produced by Agencies and other stakeholders. The list is not exhaustive but is meant to provide signposts to advice to inform the implementation of these policies. These blogs are intended to be living documents and will be updated as and when new advice and guidance becomes available.
NPF4 Policy 1 – tackling the climate and nature crises
Relevant chief planner letters
Supporting guidance published by Scottish Government
NPF4 Policy 2 – climate mitigation and adaptation
Relevant chief planner letters
- transitional arrangements for National Planning Framework – February 2023
- work programme update – September 2024
Supporting guidance published by Scottish Government
- local development planning guidance
- NPF4 planning guidance policy 2 climate mitigation and adaptation
- planning and climate change guidance research report issue 3
Guidance and useful information provided by other organisations
- Adaptation Scotland- public sector
- Climate XChange
- improving access to geospatial climate risk data – climateXchange
- maximising UK adaptation to climate change – MACChub
- local authority climate service – Met Office
NPF4 Policy 3 – biodiversity
Relevant chief planner letters
- transitional arrangements for National Planning Framework – February 2023
- 2025 progress update – April 2025
Supporting guidance published by Scottish Government
- local development planning guidance
- planning guidance on biodiversity
- EU Exit habitats regulations in Scotland
Guidance and useful information provided by other organisations
- Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA) – NatureScot
- developing with nature guidance – NatureScot
- guidance on the use of existing biodiversity metrics in the Scottish planning system – NatureScot
- Scotland’s biodiversity – NatureScot
NPF4 Policy 4 – natural places
Relevant chief planner letters
Supporting guidance published by Scottish Government
Guidance and useful information provided by other organisations
- SiteLink map search
- welcome to the Nature networks toolbox – Nature Networks
- protected areas – NatureScot
- Habitats Regulations Appraisal – NatureScot
NPF4 Policy 5 – soils
Supporting guidance published by Scottish Government
- local development planning guidance
- planning and development
- carbon calculator for wind farms on Scottish peatlands – factsheet
- NPF4 planning guidance policy 2 climate mitigation and adaptation
Guidance and useful information provided by other organisations
- carbon calculator for wind farms on Scottish peatlands – climateXchange
- securing Scottish soils in a changing climate – a soil route map for Scotland – climateXchange
NPF4 Policy 6 – forestry, woodland and trees
Supporting guidance published by Scottish Government
- local development planning guidance
- planning circular 1/2011 – tree preservation orders
- Scottish Forestry right tree right place
Guidance and useful information provided by other organisations
- what protection do trees have when it comes to planning – RSPB
- The Woodland Trust
- forests and woodlands – NatureScot
NPF4 Policy 7 – historic assets and places
Relevant chief planner letters
Supporting guidance published by Scottish Government
Guidance and useful information provided by other organisations
- advice and support – Historic Environment Scotland
- planning and guidance – Historic Environment Scotland
- planning for our past and our future – Historic Environment Scotland
- policy for Scotland – Historic Environment Scotland
- our past, our future – Historic Environment Scotland
- regulations and procedures circular – Historic Environment Scotland
- listed building consent and conservation area consent – Historic Environment Scotland
- scheduled monument consent – Historic Environment Scotland
- environmental impact assessment handbook – Historic Environment Scotland
- battlefields – Historic Environment Scotland
- portal – Historic Environment Scotland
- the key to Scotland’s past – trove
- managing change in the Historic Environment – Historic Environment Scotland
- buildings at risk register – Historic Environment Scotland
- ALGAO: Scotland
- key policies – Built Environment Forum Scotland
NPF4 Policy 8 – Green Belt
Relevant chief planner letters
transitional arrangements for National Planning Framework – 4 February 2023.
Supporting guidance published by Scottish Government
Guidance and useful information provided by other organisations
- where is my Green Belt? – action to protect rural Scotland
- green belt policies – action to protect rural Scotland
- practical advice on protecting and enhancing green belts – action to protect rural Scotland
- Local Development Plan Evidence reports – examples from West Lothian, North Lanarkshire, and Aberdeenshire on applying Policy 8 in practice.
West Lothian LDP evidence report
North Lanarkshire LDP survey paper
Aberdeenshire LDP evidence report
NPF4 Policy 9 – Brownfield, vacant and derelict land and empty buildings
Relevant chief planner letters
Supporting guidance published by Scottish Government
- local development planning guidance
- the vacant and derelict land Hub (currently unavailable)
- capital investment for regeneration
- Scottish vacant and derelict land statistics (2024)
Guidance and useful information provided by other organisations
NPF4 Policy 10 – coastal development
Supporting guidance published by Scottish Government
Guidance and useful information provided by other organisations
NPF4 Policy 11 – energy
Relevant chief planner letters
- 2025 progress update – April 2025
- work programme update – September 2024
- battery storage consents – August 2020
Supporting guidance published by Scottish Government
Guidance and useful information provided by other organisations
- guidance and reporting framework on maximising net socio-economic benefit of renewable energy development – Scottish Renewables
- navigating the consenting processes for renewable energy developments – Planning Aid Scotland
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