WOBO appreciates the links for updates provided by the Scottish Government.
Chief Planner and Ministerial Letter
The Minister for Public Finance and Chief Planner have written to local authorities and stakeholders to provide an update on the work of the Short Life Working Group on flooding to support the application in practice of NPF4 policy 22 on flooding. Outputs include new and updated information on processes, roles and responsibilities related to flood risk, alongside new and updated guidance and advice on flooding matters recently published by SEPA.
Chief Planner Letter – Coal Extraction
The Chief Planner has written to local authorities and stakeholders on the 19 June 2025 to issue a Direction setting out new arrangements for notifying planning applications for coal extraction to the Scottish Ministers. The Direction came into force on 19 June 2025, and is intended to ensure that the Government’s finalised policy position on coal extraction in Scotland, is reflected through the planning decision making process.
NPF Policy 22: Flooding
On 11 June the Minister for Public Finance and Chief Planner wrote to local authorities to provide an update on the work to support the application in practice of NPF4 policy 22 on flooding. The letter clarifies certain procedural matters and highlights a range of new and updated advice on flooding matters published by SEPA.
Legislation and Guidance – Climate mitigation and adaptation
New planning guidance on climate mitigation and adaptation was published on 5 June. This guidance supports the consistent, proportionate and effective application of National Planning Framework 4 Policy 2 on climate mitigation and adaptation.
This resource is relevant to all planning stakeholders, but specifically supports planning officers, decision-makers and applicants in taking a proportionate approach to avoiding maladaptation, supporting emissions reduction and increasing resilience to climate risks across our built environment.
Guidance on the use of existing biodiversity metrics in the Scottish planning system
NatureScot published guidance on the use of existing biodiversity metrics in the Scottish planning system. This provides an overview of how metric tools work, good practice advice on the use of biodiversity metrics in a planning context, and a factual explanation of the key differences between the currently published metric tools that are publicly available. The guidance has been commissioned by Scottish Government to support delivery of NPF4 policy 3b.
Skills and Training – Fancy running your own Inspo Day?
As part of this month’s National Planning Skills Commitment Plan, we are encouraging other employers to ‘open their workplaces’ to budding planners. If you fancy doing this, feel free to contact susan.stirling@gov.scot for advice. We’ve now welcomed almost 100 people through our doors and it’s been a pleasure to meet everyone and share what we do. A vlog of our most recent “inspo day” can be found on our Linkedin.
National Planning Skills Commitment Plan
This month, we’ve tried some different ideas by introducing a series of ‘Listen-Up!’ podcasts with the first theme focusing on Leadership. These are short recordings with some leaders, across the profession, to listen and be inspired in your own time. ‘In your Own Words’ is a series of personal stories from planners working across Scotland’s rural areas covering Orkney, Highland, North Ayrshire (Arran and Cumbrae) Argyll and Bute, Moray and Shetland. You can read them on our Linkedin. Last night, WSP led two landscape architecture ‘Walk | Talk | Learn’ events – one in Inverness with support from Highland Council and one in Edinburgh. Thank you to everyone who contributed to June’s training.
Bursaries
Closing dates are approaching to apply for a free £5000 grant to study planning, as a Post Graduate, at one of our three Planning School Universities – Heriot Watt, Dundee and Glasgow. You don’t need a background in planning just a passion to work in the built and natural environment. Further details can be found on Linkedin.
Historic Environment Scotland – online training
Historic Environment Scotland (HES) are developing an online training course for planners about the historic environment. The scope of the course is to provide in-depth knowledge and practical guidance, empowering planners to make informed decisions about the historic environment. It will cover a range of topics but will have a clear focus on understanding legislation and policy around the historic environment and change management, roles and responsibilities, and how to find/apply key guidance. In July and August, there will opportunities to contribute to the development of the course including participating in a survey and in engagement workshops. To have your say and stay informed about the training, you can sign up to their mailing list.
Draft guidance on Planning Obligations and Good Neighbour Agreements
We have published draft guidance for comment on Planning Obligations and Good Neighbour Agreements. Once finalised, this will replace Circular 3/2012, reflecting changes in law and practice since the publication of that Circular. In particular, the draft guidance sets out how developer contributions policies should be included within new-style development plans, and how to provide clear justification for contributions addressing cumulative impacts. Our ambition is that the new guidance will provide greater certainty for developers, planning authorities and infrastructure providers, supporting the aim of a more plan-led and delivery-focused system.
Over recent months we have engaged with a range of stakeholders to discuss how the guidance on planning obligations could be improved. We are now issuing this guidance as a draft for comment, to check that it is clearly written and provides appropriate advice.
Please send any comments to Planning.Obligations@gov.