{"id":3320,"date":"2026-01-29T10:20:50","date_gmt":"2026-01-29T10:20:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/?p=3320"},"modified":"2026-03-20T15:55:55","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T15:55:55","slug":"national-planning-framework-4-policy-overviews-1-to-11","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/2026\/01\/29\/national-planning-framework-4-policy-overviews-1-to-11\/","title":{"rendered":"National Planning Framework 4 Policy Overviews 1 to 11"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3><strong>NPF4 Policy overviews<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>We have collated over three blogs, overviews of advice and guidance available for each of the 33 policies contained in National Planning Framework 4.<\/p>\n<p>The blogs contain the following policy split.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>blog 1 \u2013 policy 1 to 11<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/2026\/01\/29\/national-planning-framework-4-policy-overviews-12-to-22\/\">blog 2 \u2013 policy 12 to 22<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/2026\/01\/29\/national-planning-framework-4-policy-overviews-23-to-33\/\">blog 3 \u2013 policy 23 to 33<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p><span data-teams=\"true\">This page was last updated on 9 February 2026.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>NPF4 Policy 1 \u2013 tackling the climate and nature crises<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Relevant chief planner letters<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/chief-planner-letter-transitional-arrangements-for-national-planning-framework-4\/\">transitional arrangements for National Planning Framework &#8211; February 2023<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Supporting guidance published by Scottish Government<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/local-development-planning-guidance\/\">local development planning guidance<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>NPF4 Policy 2 \u2013 climate mitigation and adaptation<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Relevant chief planner letters<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/chief-planner-letter-transitional-arrangements-for-national-planning-framework-4\/\">transitional arrangements for National Planning Framework &#8211; February 2023<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/planning-work-programme-update-chief-planner-and-ministerial-letter-september-2024\/\">work programme update &#8211; September 2024<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Supporting guidance published by Scottish Government<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/local-development-planning-guidance\/\">local development planning guidance<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/npf4-planning-guidance-policy-2-climate-mitigation-adaptation\/\">NPF4 planning guidance policy 2 climate mitigation and adaptation<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/research-inform-national-planning-framework-4-planning-climate-change-guidance-report-issue-3\/\">planning and climate change guidance research report issue 3<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Guidance and useful information provided by other organisations<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/adaptation.scot\/take-action\/public-sector\/\">Adaptation Scotland- public sector<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.climatexchange.org.uk\/\">Climate XChange<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.climatexchange.org.uk\/projects\/improving-access-to-geospatial-climate-risk-data\/\">improving access to geospatial climate risk data &#8211; climateXchange<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/macchub.co.uk\/\">maximising UK adaptation to climate change &#8211; MACChub<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/climatedataportal.metoffice.gov.uk\/pages\/lacs?mc_cid=35662a5f8e&amp;mc_eid=a9ae8a2142\">local authority climate service &#8211; Met Office<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sepa.org.uk\/media\/jjwpxuso\/climate-change-allowances-guidance_v6.pdf\">climate change allowances for flood risk assessment in land use planning &#8211; SEPA<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>NPF4 Policy 3 \u2013 biodiversity<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Relevant chief planner letters<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/chief-planner-letter-transitional-arrangements-for-national-planning-framework-4\/\">transitional arrangements for National Planning Framework &#8211; February 2023<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/planning-2025-progress-update-ministerial-and-chief-planner-letter-april-2025\/\">2025 progress update &#8211; April 2025<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Supporting guidance published by Scottish Government<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/local-development-planning-guidance\/\">local development planning guidance<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/scottish-government-planning-guidance-biodiversity\/\">planning guidance on biodiversity<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/eu-exit-habitats-regulations-scotland-2\/\">EU Exit habitats regulations in Scotland<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Guidance and useful information provided by other organisations<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.scot\/professional-advice\/planning-and-development\/environmental-assessment\/habitats-regulations-appraisal-hra\">Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA) &#8211; NatureScot<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.scot\/doc\/developing-nature-guidance\">developing with nature guidance &#8211; NatureScot<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.scot\/doc\/guidance-use-existing-biodiversity-metrics-scottish-planning-system\">guidance on the use of existing biodiversity metrics in the Scottish planning system &#8211; NatureScot<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.scot\/scotlands-biodiversity\">Scotland&#8217;s biodiversity &#8211; NatureScot<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.scot\/doc\/naturescot-research-report-1391-review-habitat-classifications-their-potential-use-scottish-planning\">a review of habitat classifications for their potential use in a Scottish planning biodiversity metric &#8211; NatureScot <\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.scot\/doc\/biodiversity-metric-scotlands-planning-system\">a biodiversity metric for Scotland&#8217;s planning system &#8211; NatureScot<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>NPF4 Policy 4 &#8211; natural places<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Relevant chief planner letters<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/ramsar-sites-ministerial-and-chief-planner-letter-july-2025\/\">Ramsar sites &#8211; July 2025<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/european-protected-species-chief-planner-letter\/\">European protected species terms of guidance &#8211; May 2006<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Supporting guidance published by Scottish Government<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/local-development-planning-guidance\/\">local development planning guidance<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/scottish-government-planning-guidance-biodiversity\/\">planning guidance biodiversity<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Guidance and useful information provided by other organisations<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sitelink.nature.scot\/map\">SiteLink map search<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/naturenetworks.scot\/\">welcome to the Nature networks toolbox &#8211; Nature Networks<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.scot\/professional-advice\/protected-areas-and-species\/protected-areas\">protected areas &#8211; NatureScot<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.scot\/professional-advice\/planning-and-development\/environmental-assessment\/habitats-regulations-appraisal-hra\">Habitats Regulations Appraisal &#8211; NatureScot<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.scot\/professional-advice\/protected-areas-and-species\/protected-areas\/national-designations\/national-scenic-areas\/national-scenic-areas-background-guidance\">National scenic areas: background, guidance and policy &#8211; NatureScot<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.scot\/professional-advice\/landscape\/landscape-character-assessment\/landscape-character-assessment-scotland\">landscape character assessment in Scotland &#8211; NatureScot<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/view.officeapps.live.com\/op\/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sepa.org.uk%2Fmedia%2Fpuqhuwhn%2Frecommended-riparian-corridor-note.docx&amp;wdOrigin=BROWSELINK\">recommended Riparian Corridor Layer for use in land use planning &#8211; SEPA<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>NPF4 Policy 5 \u2013 soils<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Supporting guidance published by Scottish Government<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/local-development-planning-guidance\/\">local development planning guidance<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/soils.environment.gov.scot\/resources\/planning-and-development\/\">planning and development<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/carbon-calculator-for-wind-farms-on-scottish-peatlands-factsheet\/\">carbon calculator for wind farms on Scottish peatlands &#8211; factsheet<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/npf4-planning-guidance-policy-2-climate-mitigation-adaptation\/\">NPF4 planning guidance policy 2 climate mitigation and adaptation<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Guidance and useful information provided by other organisations<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.climatexchange.org.uk\/projects\/carbon-calculator-for-wind-farms-on-scottish-peatlands\/\">carbon calculator for wind farms on Scottish peatlands &#8211; climateXchange<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.climatexchange.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/CXC-Securing-soils-in-a-changing-climate-A-soil-route-map-for-Scotland-March-2025.pdf\">securing Scottish soils in a changing climate &#8211;\u00a0 a soil route map for Scotland &#8211; climateXchange<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/mail.algao.org.uk\/sites\/algao.org.uk\/files\/2025-10\/ALGAO-PeatlandRestorationHistoricEnvironment-ScotlandGuidance.pdf\">guidance for Peatland Restoration and the Historic Environment in Scotland &#8211; ALGAO<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>NPF4 Policy 6 &#8211; forestry, woodland and trees<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Supporting guidance published by Scottish Government<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/local-development-planning-guidance\/\">local development planning guidance<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/scottish-planning-series-planning-circular-1-2011-tree-preservation-orders\/pages\/5\/\">planning circular 1\/2011 &#8211; tree preservation orders<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.forestry.gov.scot\/publications\/planning-the-right-tree-right-place\">Scottish Forestry right tree right place<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Guidance and useful information provided by other organisations<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rspb.org.uk\/helping-nature\/what-you-can-do\/planning-for-nature-toolkit\/scotland-planning-system\/other-decision-making-processes\/what-protection-do-trees-have\">what protection do trees have when it comes to planning &#8211; RSPB<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.woodlandtrust.org.uk\/\">The Woodland Trust<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.scot\/professional-advice\/land-and-sea-management\/managing-land\/forests-and-woodlands\">forests and woodlands &#8211; NatureScot<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.forestry.gov.scot\/publications\/technical-note-preparing-forestry-and-woodland-strategy\">forestry and woodland strategies technical note &#8211; Scottish Forestry<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>NPF4 Policy 7 &#8211; historic assets and places<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Relevant chief planner letters<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/chief-planner-letter-transitional-arrangements-for-national-planning-framework-4\/\">transitional arrangements for National Planning Framework 4 February 2023<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Supporting guidance published by Scottish Government<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/local-development-planning-guidance\/\">local development planning guidance<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/planning-advice-note-1-2013-environmental-impact-assessment\/\">Planning Advice Note 1\/2013: environmental impact assessment<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Guidance and useful information provided by other organisations<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.historicenvironment.scot\/advice-and-support\/\">advice and support &#8211; Historic Environment Scotland<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.historicenvironment.scot\/advice-and-support\/planning-and-guidance\/\">planning and guidance &#8211; Historic Environment Scotland <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.historicenvironment.scot\/advice-and-support\/planning-and-guidance\/\">\u00a0<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.historicenvironment.scot\/archives-and-research\/publications\/publication\/?publicationId=10a56ad6-ac76-47e1-904e-a8c000a41b78\">planning for our past and our future &#8211; Historic Environment Scotland<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.historicenvironment.scot\/advice-and-support\/planning-and-guidance\/historic-environment-policy-for-scotland-heps\/\">policy for Scotland &#8211; Historic Environment Scotland<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.historicenvironment.scot\/archives-and-research\/publications\/publication\/?publicationId=79204155-9eb2-4d29-ab14-aff200ec2801\">our past, our future &#8211; Historic Environment Scotland<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.historicenvironment.scot\/archives-and-research\/publications\/publication\/?publicationId=a768f3cb-eb44-4473-be7b-aa2500e4892b\">regulations and procedures circular &#8211; Historic Environment Scotland<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.historicenvironment.scot\/advice-and-support\/applying-for-consents\/listed-building-consent-and-conservation-area-consent\/\">listed building consent and conservation area consent &#8211; Historic Environment Scotland<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.historicenvironment.scot\/advice-and-support\/applying-for-consents\/scheduled-monument-consent\/\">scheduled monument consent &#8211; Historic Environment Scotland<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.historicenvironment.scot\/archives-and-research\/publications\/publication\/?publicationId=6ed33b65-9df1-4a2f-acbb-a8e800a592c0\">environmental impact assessment handbook &#8211; Historic Environment Scotland<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.historicenvironment.scot\/advice-and-support\/listing-scheduling-and-designations\/battlefields\/\">battlefields &#8211; Historic Environment Scotland<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/portal-beta.historicenvironment.scot\/apex\/f?p=PORTAL:search\">portal &#8211; Historic Environment Scotland<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.historicenvironment.scot\/advice-and-support\/planning-and-guidance\/legislation-and-guidance\/managing-change-in-the-historic-environment\/\">managing change in the Historic Environment &#8211; Historic Environment Scotland<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.historicenvironment.scot\/advice-and-support\/planning-and-guidance\/buildings-at-risk-register\/\">buildings at risk register &#8211; Historic Environment Scotland<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.algao.org.uk\/scotland\">ALGAO: Scotland<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.befs.org.uk\/scotlands-historic-environment\/key-policies\/\">key policies &#8211; Built Environment Forum Scotland<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/mail.algao.org.uk\/sites\/algao.org.uk\/files\/2025-10\/ALGAO-GuidetoHERs_Scotland.pdf\">guide to Historic Environment Records (HERs) in Scotland &#8211; ALGAO<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/mail.algao.org.uk\/sites\/algao.org.uk\/files\/2025-10\/ALGAO-DeliveryofPublicBenefitandSocialValue_ScotlandGuidance.pdf\">delivery of public benefit and social value guidance for archaeology in the planning process &#8211; ALGAO<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/mail.algao.org.uk\/sites\/algao.org.uk\/files\/2025-10\/ALGAO-PeatlandRestorationHistoricEnvironment-ScotlandGuidance.pdf\">guidance for Peatland Restoration and the Historic Environment in Scotland &#8211; ALGAO<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>NPF4 Policy 8 \u2013 Green Belt<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Relevant chief planner letters<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/chief-planner-letter-transitional-arrangements-for-national-planning-framework-4\/\">transitional arrangements for National Planning Framework &#8211; 4 February 2023.<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Supporting guidance published by Scottish Government<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/local-development-planning-guidance\/\">local development planning guidance<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.scot\/professional-advice\/landscape\">landscape &#8211; NatureScot<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Guidance and useful information provided by other organisations<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/aprs.scot\/campaigns\/aprs-green-belts-campaign\/where-is-my-green-belt\/\">where is my Green Belt? &#8211; action to protect rural Scotland<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/aprs.scot\/resources\/npf4-green-belt-policies\/\">green belt policies &#8211; action to protect rural Scotland<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/aprs.scot\/resources\/aprs-draft-green-belts-advice-note\/\">practical advice on protecting and enhancing green belts &#8211; action to protect rural Scotland<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>Local Development Plan Evidence reports<\/strong> \u2013 examples from West Lothian, North Lanarkshire, and Aberdeenshire on applying Policy 8 in practice.<br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/westlothian.gov.uk\/media\/64756\/Schedule-7-Green-Belt\/pdf\/Schedule_7._Green_Belt.pdf\">West Lothian LDP evidence report<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk\/sites\/default\/files\/2024-09\/NLLDP2%20Survey%20Paper%20-%20Policy%208%20Green%20Belts.pdf\">North Lanarkshire LDP survey paper<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/engage.aberdeenshire.gov.uk\/ldp-evidence-report-greenbelt\">Aberdeenshire LDP evidence report<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>NPF4 Policy 9\u00a0 &#8211; Brownfield, vacant and derelict land and empty buildings<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Relevant chief planner letters<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/chief-planner-letter-transitional-arrangements-for-national-planning-framework-4\/\">transitional arrangements for National Planning Framework &#8211; February 2023<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Supporting guidance published by Scottish Government<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/local-development-planning-guidance\/\">local development planning guidance<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ourplace.scot\/\">the vacant and derelict land Hub<\/a> (currently unavailable)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/policies\/regeneration\/capital-investment\/\">capital investment for regeneration<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/scottish-vacant-derelict-land-statistics-2024\/\">Scottish vacant and derelict land statistics (2024)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Guidance and useful information provided by other organisations<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.landcommission.gov.scot\/our-work\/housing-development\/transforming-vacant-and-derelict-land\">transforming vacant and derelict land housing and development &#8211; Scottish Land Commission<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>NPF4 Policy 10 \u2013 coastal development<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Supporting guidance published by Scottish Government<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/local-development-planning-guidance\/\">local development planning guidance<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dynamiccoast.com\/\">dynamic coast<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dynamiccoast.com\/files\/ccapg_2023feb.pdf\">coastal change adaptation plan guidance<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Guidance and useful information provided by other organisations<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.climatexchange.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/CXC-Planning-for-coastal-change-adaptation-in-Scotland-April-2025.pdf\">planning for coastal change adaptation in Scotland &#8211; climateXchange<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/verture.org.uk\/project\/flood-resilience\/coastal-change\/\">coastal change &#8211; Verture<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>NPF4 Policy 11 \u2013 energy<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Relevant chief planner letters<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/planning-2025-progress-update-ministerial-and-chief-planner-letter-april-2025\/\">2025 progress update &#8211; April 2025<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/planning-work-programme-update-chief-planner-and-ministerial-letter-september-2024\/\">work programme update &#8211; September 2024<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/battery-storage-consents-and-variations-to-planning-permission-for-energy-generating-ancillary-uses-chief-planner-letter-august-2020\/\">battery storage consents &#8211; August 2020<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Supporting guidance published by Scottish Government<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/local-development-planning-guidance\/\">local development planning guidance<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/scottish-government-good-practice-principles-community-benefits-onshore-renewable-energy-developments\/\">community benefits from onshore renewable energy developments<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/hydrogen-planning-consenting-guidance\/\">Hydrogen planning and consenting guidance<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/planning-guidance-battery-energy-storage-systems\/\">Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) &#8211; planning guidance<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Guidance and useful information provided by other organisations<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scottishrenewables.com\/assets\/000\/004\/592\/2025.03.18_Maximising_Net_Socio-Economic_Benefit_Reporting_Framework_original.pdf?1742308718#:~:text=Part%20C%20of%20policy%2011,business%20and%20supply%20chain%20opportunities.%E2%80%9D\">guidance and reporting framework on maximising net socio-economic benefit of renewable energy development &#8211; Scottish Renewables<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pas.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Navigating-the-Consenting-Processes-for-Renewable-Energy-Developments.pdf\">navigating the consenting processes for renewable energy developments &#8211; Planning Aid Scotland<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/beta.sepa.scot\/topics\/energy\/battery-energy-storage-systems-bess\/\">Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) &#8211; SEPA<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/beta.sepa.scot\/topics\/energy\/hydrogen\/\">hydrogen &#8211; SEPA<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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 \u2013 policy 1 to 11 blog 2 \u2013 policy 12 to 22 blog 3 \u2013 policy 23 to 33&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[370,5,439,9,12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3320","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-green-spaces","category-housing-infrastructure","category-national-planning-framework","category-planning-2","category-stakeholder-engagement"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>National Planning Framework 4 Policy Overviews 1 to 11 - Planning and Architecture<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"national planning-framework 4 policy overviews 1 to 11\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/2026\/01\/29\/national-planning-framework-4-policy-overviews-1-to-11\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"National Planning Framework 4 Policy Overviews 1 to 11 - 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