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New national plan unveiled.

A new national plan proposes 14 infrastructure developments across Scotland to deliver economic growth, Planning Minister Derek Mackay announced today.

The proposed National Planning Framework (NPF3) sets out a sustainable vision of growth and development and includes two new national developments.

Following public consultation, the two proposed new developments are:

1. Pumped Hydroelectric Storage - including at Cruachan Argyll, a nationally important hydroelectricity facility with significant potential for enhanced pumped storage capacity.

2. A Digital Fibre Network - this focuses on plans for a fibre network to connect our most remote rural communities, many of which are in the Highlands and Islands.

When finalised, NPF3 will provide the context for development plans throughout the country. It will now be considered for 60 days by the Scottish Parliament.

Mr Mackay said:

“Scotland’s planning system has an important and positive role to play in supporting sustainable economic growth.

“The consultation on the National Planning Framework attracted many responses from people and organisations throughout Scotland.”

“The proposed framework will benefit every part of Scotland and sets out our vision for where sustainable economic growth should take place over the next 20 to 30 years.

“I want future planning decisions to give due weight to the economic benefit of proposed developments, particularly the creation of new jobs.”

Notes to editors

The proposed 14 national developments contained within ‘Ambition, Opportunity, Place – A proposed Spatial Plan for Scotland’ are:

1. Ravenscraig

2. Dundee Waterfront

3. Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Network and Thermal Generation

4. High Voltage Energy Transmission Network

5. Pumped Hydroelectric Storage

6. Central Scotland Green Network

7. Metropolitan Glasgow Strategic Drainage Partnership

8. National Long Distance Cycling and Walking Network

9. High Speed Rail

10. Strategic Airport Enhancements

11. Grangemouth Investment Zone

12. Freight Handling Capacity on the Forth

13. Aberdeen Harbour

14. National Digital Fibre Network

The plan can be viewed at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/npf3-spp-review

A position statement, providing an update on progress towards preparing the Scottish Planning Policy (SPP), has also been published.

The Scottish Government expects to adopt the finalised NPF3 and Scottish Planning Policy in June 2014.