{"id":3328,"date":"2026-01-29T10:26:02","date_gmt":"2026-01-29T10:26:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/?p=3328"},"modified":"2026-03-20T10:42:52","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T10:42:52","slug":"national-planning-framework-4-policy-overviews-12-to-22","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/2026\/01\/29\/national-planning-framework-4-policy-overviews-12-to-22\/","title":{"rendered":"National Planning Framework 4 Policy Overviews 12 to 22"},"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><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/2026\/01\/29\/national-planning-framework-4-policy-overviews-1-to-11\/\">blog 1 \u2013 policy 1 to 11<\/a><\/li>\n<li>blog 2 \u2013 policy 12 to 22<\/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 12 &#8211; Zero waste<\/strong><\/h3>\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<p><strong>Guidance and useful information provided by other organisations<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/beta.sepa.scot\/topics\/waste\/waste-guidance\/\">waste guidance &#8211; SEPA<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>NPF4 Policy 13 &#8211; Sustainable transport<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Relevant chief planner letters<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/housing-sme-homebuilders-ministerial-letter-october-2025\/\">SME homebuilders &#8211; October 2025<\/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\u00a0<\/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-local-living-20-minute-neighbourhoods\/\">local living and 20 minute neighbourhoods<\/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.transport.gov.scot\/publication\/development-planning-transport-appraisal-guidance-dptag\/\">development planning transport appraisal guidance &#8211; Transport Scotland<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/scotlands-climate-change-plan-2026-2040\/\">Scotland&#8217;s climate change plan \u2013 2026-2040 <\/a>(transport annex)<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.transport.gov.scot\/publication\/achieving-car-use-reduction-in-scotland-a-renewed-policy-statement\/\">achieving car use reduction in Scotland &#8211; a renewed policy statement &#8211; Transport Scotland<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/national-islands-plan-implementation-route-map-2024\/\">national islands plan &#8211; implementation route map 2024<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.transport.gov.scot\/publication\/cycling-by-design\/\">cycling by design &#8211; Transport Scotland<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.transport.gov.scot\/publication\/local-transport-strategy-guidance\/\">local transport strategy guidance &#8211; Transport Scotland<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.transport.gov.scot\/media\/52980\/active-travel-strategy-guidance-2023.pdf\">active travel strategy guidance 2023 &#8211; Transport Scotland<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.transport.gov.scot\/publication\/aviation-statement\/\">aviation statement &#8211; Transport Scotland<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.transport.gov.scot\/public-transport\/rail\/rail-policy-and-strategy\/\">rail policy and strategy &#8211; Transport Scotland<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/consult.gov.scot\/transport-scotland\/inclusive-design-town-centres-busy-streets\/\">guidance on inclusive design for town centres and busy streets &#8211; consultation responses &#8211; Transport Scotland<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scotsnet.org.uk\/__data\/assets\/pdf_file\/0029\/51779\/SCOTS-guide-for-road-construction-consent-road-bond-process.pdf\">road construction consent and road bond process guidance &#8211; SCOTS<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scotsnet.org.uk\/__data\/assets\/pdf_file\/0035\/45998\/National-Roads-Development-Guide.pdf\">national roads development guide &#8211; SCOTS<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scotsnet.org.uk\/__data\/assets\/pdf_file\/0010\/46000\/SudsforRoads.pdf\">SUDS for roads &#8211; SCOTS<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/publichealthscotland.scot\/publications\/transport-poverty-a-public-health-issue\/transport-poverty-a-public-health-issue\/\">transport poverty &#8211; a public health issue &#8211; Public Health Scotland<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scotsnet.org.uk\/__data\/assets\/pdf_file\/0015\/53331\/creating-a-public-realm-090724.pdf\">creating a public realm for all &#8211; SCOTS<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>NPF4 Policy \u2013 14 Design quality and place<\/strong><\/h3>\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\/masterplan-consent-areas-guidance\/\">Masterplan Consent Areas guidance<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/designing-streets-policy-statement-scotland\/\">designing Streets &#8211; a policy statement for Scotland <\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>NPF4 Policy 15 &#8211;\u00a0 Local living and 20 minute neighbourhoods<\/strong><\/h3>\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:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/2023\/05\/24\/planning-to-live-well-locally-consultation-on-draft-guidance-2\/\">planning to live well locally consultation <\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/binaries\/content\/documents\/govscot\/publications\/advice-and-guidance\/2024\/04\/scottish-government-planning-guidance-local-living-20-minute-neighbourhoods\/documents\/scottish-government-planning-guidance-local-living-20-minute-neighbourhoods\/scottish-government-planning-guidance-local-living-20-minute-neighbourhoods\/govscot%3Adocument\/scottish-government-planning-guidance-local-living-20-minute-neighbourhoods.pdf\">local living 20 minute neighbourhoods <\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/masterplan-consent-areas-guidance\/\">Masterplan Consent Areas &#8211; guidance<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/binaries\/content\/documents\/govscot\/publications\/advice-and-guidance\/2024\/12\/guidance-effective-community-engagement-local-development-planning-guidance\/documents\/scottish-government-planning-guidance-effective-community-engagement-local-development-plans-people-planning\/scottish-government-planning-guidance-effective-community-engagement-local-development-plans-people-planning\/govscot%3Adocument\/scottish-government-planning-guidance-effective-community-engagement-local-development-plans-people-planning.pdf\">effective community engagement in local development plans <\/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.improvementservice.org.uk\/products-and-services\/digital-public-services\/digital-planning\">how to map a 20-minute neighbourhood &#8211; Improvement Service<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/proctorandmatthews.com\/sites\/default\/files\/downloads\/projects\/understanding-20-minute-neighbourhood.pdf\">understanding the 20 minute neighbourhood<\/a> \u2013 Dundee University<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.alliance-scotland.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Exploring-20-Minute-Neighbourhoods-Report.pdf\">inclusivity, diversity and accessibility &#8211; Alliance Scotland<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nickwrightplanning.co.uk\/posts\/20mns-highlands-islands\">application in rural and island setting &#8211; Nick Wright Planning<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/surf.scot\/programme\/people-in-place\/\">People in place practice network &#8211; SURF<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>NPF4 Policy 16 &#8211; Quality homes<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Relevant chief planner letters<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/housing-sme-homebuilders-ministerial-letter-october-2025\/\">SME homebuilders \u2013 October 2025<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/housing-applications-chief-planner-letter-and-notification-direction-september-2025\/\">housing applications and notification direction \u2013 September 2025<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/housing-cabinet-secretary-for-housing-and-minister-for-public-finance-letter-september-2025\/\">Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Minister for Public Finance letter \u2013 September 2025<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/national-planning-hub-update-chief-planner-letter-may-2025\/\">National Planning Hub update \u2013 May 2025<\/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<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/planning-2025-priorities-ministerial-and-chief-planner-letter-january-2025\/\">2025 priorities &#8211; January 2025<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/planning-for-housing-a-delivery-plan-ministerial-letter-november-2024\/\">planning for housing: delivery plan &#8211; November 2024<\/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\/planning-for-housing-chief-planner-letter-june-2024\/\">planning for housing \u2013 June 2024<\/a><\/li>\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 &#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.gov.scot\/publications\/housing-land-audit-guidance\/pages\/5\/\">housing land audit guidance<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/planning-advice-note-2-2010-affordable-housing-housing-land-audits\/\">Planning Advice Note 2\/2010 &#8211; affordable housing and housing land audits<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Other significant relevant Scottish Government policy announcements<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/tackling-scotlands-housing-emergency\/\">tackling Scotland&#8217;s housing emergency &#8211; housing emergency action plan<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/2025\/10\/28\/planning-and-the-housing-emergency-delivery-plan-actions-update\/\">planning and the housing emergency delivery plan &#8211; actions update<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>NPF4 Policy 17 &#8211; Rural homes<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Relevant chief planner letters<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/housing-sme-homebuilders-ministerial-letter-october-2025\/\">SME homebuilders \u2013 October 2025<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/housing-cabinet-secretary-for-housing-and-minister-for-public-finance-letter-september-2025\/\">Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Minister for Public Finance letter on housing \u2013 September 2025<\/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<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/planning-2025-priorities-ministerial-and-chief-planner-letter-january-2025\/\">2025 priorities &#8211; January 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<\/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\/housing-land-audit-guidance\/pages\/5\/\">housing land audit &#8211; guidance<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/planning-advice-note-2-2010-affordable-housing-housing-land-audits\/\">Planning Advice Note 2\/2010 &#8211; affordable housing and housing land audits<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Other significant relevant Scottish Government policy announcements<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/tackling-scotlands-housing-emergency\/\">tackling Scotland&#8217;s housing emergency &#8211; housing emergency action plan<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/2025\/10\/28\/planning-and-the-housing-emergency-delivery-plan-actions-update\/\">planning and the housing emergency delivery plan \u2013 actions update<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>NPF4 Policy 18 \u2013 Infrastructure first<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><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-2025-priorities-ministerial-and-chief-planner-letter-january-2025\/\">2025 priorities &#8211; January 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.transport.gov.scot\/media\/l2xic02n\/development-planning-transport-appraisal-guidance-dptag.pdf\">development planning transport appraisal guidance <\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/national-mission-local-impact-infrastructure-investment-plan-scotland-2021-22-2025-26\/\">a national mission with local impact &#8211; infrastructure investment plan for Scotland 2021-22 to 2025-26 &#8211; gov.scot<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/infrastructure-investment-plan-2021-22-2025-26-progress-report-2024-2025\/\">infrastructure investment plan 2021-22 to 2025-26 &#8211; progress report 2024 to 2025 <\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/planning-infrastructure-place-advisory-group-annual-report-2024\/\">planning, infrastructure and place advisory group annual report 2024 <\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/planning-obligations-good-neighbour-agreements\/\">planning circular 4\/2025 &#8211; planning obligations and good neighbour agreements<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>NPF4 Policy 19 \u2013 Heating and cooling<\/strong><\/h3>\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\/heat-buildings-strategy-achieving-net-zero-emissions-scotlands-buildings\/\">local heat and energy efficiency strategies and delivery plans &#8211; guidance<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/heat-buildings-strategy-achieving-net-zero-emissions-scotlands-buildings\/documents\/\">heat in buildings strategy &#8211; achieving net zero emissions in Scotland&#8217;s buildings<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/new-build-heat-standard-factsheet\/pages\/overview\/\">new build heat standard<\/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.sepa.org.uk\/media\/162921\/lups-bp-gu2c-ii-land-use-planning-background-paper-on-heat-networks-and-district-heating.pdf\">heat networks and district heating &#8211; SEPA<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>NPF4 Policy 20 \u2013 Blue and green infrastructure<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Relevant chief planner letters<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\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\/planning-advice-note-pan-65-planning-open-space\/pages\/5\/\">Planning advice note 65 &#8211; planning and open space<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/water-resilient-places-policy-framework-surface-water-management-blue-green-infrastructure\/\">water-resilient places &#8211; surface water management and blue-green infrastructure policy framework <\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/scottish-biodiversity-delivery-plan-20242030\/\">biodiversity &#8211; delivery plan 2024 to 2030<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/scottish-national-adaptation-plan-2024-2029-2\/\">climate change &#8211; Scottish national adaptation plan 2024-2029<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/scottish-government-planning-guidance-biodiversity\/\">biodiversity &#8211; planning guidance<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/binaries\/content\/documents\/govscot\/publications\/strategy-plan\/2025\/07\/draft-environment-strategy\/documents\/environment-strategy-scotland-consultation-draft\/environment-strategy-scotland-consultation-draft\/govscot%3Adocument\/environment-strategy-scotland-consultation-draft.pdf\">the environment strategy for Scotland &#8211; consultation draft<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/local-food-everyone-journey\/\">local food for everyone<\/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\/placemaking-and-green-infrastructure\/green-infrastructure\">green infrastructure &#8211; NatureScot<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.scot\/doc\/naturescot-research-report-1361-spans-scotlands-people-and-nature-survey-202324-connection-nature\">SPANS Scotland\u2019s People and Nature Survey 2023\/24 &#8211; connection to nature &#8211; NatureScot<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.scot\/doc\/biodiversity-metric-scotlands-planning-system\">a biodiversity metric for Scotland\u2019s planning system &#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<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\"><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>NPF4 Policy 21 &#8211; Play, recreation and sport<\/strong><\/h3>\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-play-sufficiency-assessment\/\">play sufficiency assessment regulations 2023 &#8211; guidance<\/a><\/li>\n<li><u>Place Standard: Children and Young People Versions \u2013 Ourplace.scot (website temporarily unavailable)<\/u><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/scotlands-play-vision-statement-action-plan-2025-2030\/\">play &#8211; vision statement and action plan 2025 to 2030<\/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.playscotland.org\/playful-communities\/play-sufficiency-assessments\/\">play sufficiency assessments &#8211; Play Scotland<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/cciglasgow.org\/projects\/play-sufficiency-assessment\/\">play sufficiency assessment \u2014 CCI<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Policy 22 &#8211; Flood risk and water management<\/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-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\/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\/national-planning-framework-4-policy-22-flood-risk-and-water-management-chief-planner-letter-june-2025\/\">policy 22 (flood risk and water management) &#8211; June 2025 (withdrawn)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.scot\/publications\/national-planning-framework-4-policy-22-flood-risk-and-water-management-chief-planner-letter-october-2025\/\">policy 22 (flood risk and water management) \u2013 October 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>To be published 2026 \u2013 Climate change duties &#8211; statutory guidance for public bodies<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Guidance and useful information provided by other organisations<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sepa.org.uk\/environment\/land\/planning\/guidance-and-advice-notes\/\">guidance and advice notes-\u00a0 SEPA<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.climatexchange.org.uk\/projects\/using-future-climate-scenarios-to-support-todays-decision-making\/\">using future climate scenarios to support today\u2019s decision making &#8211; ClimateXChange<\/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":[2,370,350,5,9],"tags":[450,67,452,453,451,446,449,448],"class_list":["post-3328","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-architecture","category-green-spaces","category-heat","category-housing-infrastructure","category-planning-2","tag-design-quality","tag-development-planning","tag-homes","tag-infrastructure","tag-local-living","tag-national-planning-framework-4","tag-transport","tag-waste"],"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 12 to 22 - Planning and Architecture<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"National Planning framework 4 - overviews containing Scottish Government produced advice alongside that produced by Agencies and other stakeholders.\" \/>\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-12-to-22\/\" \/>\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 12 to 22 - Planning and Architecture\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"National Planning framework 4 - overviews containing Scottish Government produced advice alongside that produced by Agencies and other stakeholders.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/2026\/01\/29\/national-planning-framework-4-policy-overviews-12-to-22\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Planning and Architecture\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-01-29T10:26:02+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-03-20T10:42:52+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"planningarchitecture\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@scotgovplanning\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"planningarchitecture\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/2026\/01\/29\/national-planning-framework-4-policy-overviews-12-to-22\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/2026\/01\/29\/national-planning-framework-4-policy-overviews-12-to-22\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"planningarchitecture\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/#\/schema\/person\/b39139312df760faa836cc014854deba\"},\"headline\":\"National Planning Framework 4 Policy Overviews 12 to 22\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-01-29T10:26:02+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-03-20T10:42:52+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/2026\/01\/29\/national-planning-framework-4-policy-overviews-12-to-22\/\"},\"wordCount\":1021,\"commentCount\":0,\"keywords\":[\"design quality\",\"development planning\",\"homes\",\"infrastructure\",\"local living\",\"national planning framework 4\",\"transport\",\"waste\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Architecture\",\"Green Spaces\",\"Heat\",\"Housing &amp; Infrastructure\",\"Planning\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/2026\/01\/29\/national-planning-framework-4-policy-overviews-12-to-22\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/2026\/01\/29\/national-planning-framework-4-policy-overviews-12-to-22\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/2026\/01\/29\/national-planning-framework-4-policy-overviews-12-to-22\/\",\"name\":\"National Planning Framework 4 Policy Overviews 12 to 22 - Planning and Architecture\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2026-01-29T10:26:02+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-03-20T10:42:52+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/#\/schema\/person\/b39139312df760faa836cc014854deba\"},\"description\":\"National Planning framework 4 - overviews containing Scottish Government produced advice alongside that produced by Agencies and other stakeholders.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/2026\/01\/29\/national-planning-framework-4-policy-overviews-12-to-22\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/2026\/01\/29\/national-planning-framework-4-policy-overviews-12-to-22\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/2026\/01\/29\/national-planning-framework-4-policy-overviews-12-to-22\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"National Planning Framework 4 Policy Overviews 12 to 22\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/\",\"name\":\"Planning and Architecture\",\"description\":\"Scottish Government Blog\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/#\/schema\/person\/b39139312df760faa836cc014854deba\",\"name\":\"planningarchitecture\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/wp-content\/wphb-cache\/gravatar\/697\/697eb36f42f5405f256b2685f0a4eabex96.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/wp-content\/wphb-cache\/gravatar\/697\/697eb36f42f5405f256b2685f0a4eabex96.jpg\",\"caption\":\"planningarchitecture\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/x.com\/@scotgovplanning\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/author\/planningarchitecture\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"National Planning Framework 4 Policy Overviews 12 to 22 - Planning and Architecture","description":"National Planning framework 4 - overviews containing Scottish Government produced advice alongside that produced by Agencies and other stakeholders.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/2026\/01\/29\/national-planning-framework-4-policy-overviews-12-to-22\/","og_locale":"en_GB","og_type":"article","og_title":"National Planning Framework 4 Policy Overviews 12 to 22 - Planning and Architecture","og_description":"National Planning framework 4 - overviews containing Scottish Government produced advice alongside that produced by Agencies and other stakeholders.","og_url":"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/2026\/01\/29\/national-planning-framework-4-policy-overviews-12-to-22\/","og_site_name":"Planning and Architecture","article_published_time":"2026-01-29T10:26:02+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-03-20T10:42:52+00:00","author":"planningarchitecture","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@scotgovplanning","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"planningarchitecture","Estimated reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/2026\/01\/29\/national-planning-framework-4-policy-overviews-12-to-22\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/2026\/01\/29\/national-planning-framework-4-policy-overviews-12-to-22\/"},"author":{"name":"planningarchitecture","@id":"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/#\/schema\/person\/b39139312df760faa836cc014854deba"},"headline":"National Planning Framework 4 Policy Overviews 12 to 22","datePublished":"2026-01-29T10:26:02+00:00","dateModified":"2026-03-20T10:42:52+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/2026\/01\/29\/national-planning-framework-4-policy-overviews-12-to-22\/"},"wordCount":1021,"commentCount":0,"keywords":["design quality","development planning","homes","infrastructure","local living","national planning framework 4","transport","waste"],"articleSection":["Architecture","Green Spaces","Heat","Housing &amp; Infrastructure","Planning"],"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/2026\/01\/29\/national-planning-framework-4-policy-overviews-12-to-22\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/2026\/01\/29\/national-planning-framework-4-policy-overviews-12-to-22\/","url":"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/2026\/01\/29\/national-planning-framework-4-policy-overviews-12-to-22\/","name":"National Planning Framework 4 Policy Overviews 12 to 22 - Planning and Architecture","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/#website"},"datePublished":"2026-01-29T10:26:02+00:00","dateModified":"2026-03-20T10:42:52+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/#\/schema\/person\/b39139312df760faa836cc014854deba"},"description":"National Planning framework 4 - overviews containing Scottish Government produced advice alongside that produced by Agencies and other stakeholders.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/2026\/01\/29\/national-planning-framework-4-policy-overviews-12-to-22\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/2026\/01\/29\/national-planning-framework-4-policy-overviews-12-to-22\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/2026\/01\/29\/national-planning-framework-4-policy-overviews-12-to-22\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"National Planning Framework 4 Policy Overviews 12 to 22"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/#website","url":"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/","name":"Planning and Architecture","description":"Scottish Government Blog","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/#\/schema\/person\/b39139312df760faa836cc014854deba","name":"planningarchitecture","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/wp-content\/wphb-cache\/gravatar\/697\/697eb36f42f5405f256b2685f0a4eabex96.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/wp-content\/wphb-cache\/gravatar\/697\/697eb36f42f5405f256b2685f0a4eabex96.jpg","caption":"planningarchitecture"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/x.com\/@scotgovplanning"],"url":"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/author\/planningarchitecture\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3328","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3328"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3328\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3328"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3328"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.gov.scot\/planning-architecture\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3328"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}