Planners and Developers

Scotland's nature and landscapes underpin Scotland's economy and attractiveness as a place to live and do business, and local authorities and developers have a big role in helping to protect and enhance this asset.

The overarching objective of the Scottish Government is to increase sustainable economic growth. We are supporting this objective by working with planners and developers to help make good development happen in the right places.

We have an important role to play in contributing to the reform of the planning system. We will help to deliver a faster planning process by:

• focussing on development planning and the pre-application stage of development management;
• making our environmental data and our policies and guidance more easily available;
• focussing our efforts on proposals which could significantly affect the quality and enjoyment of Scotland's natural heritage.

Our vision for what Scotland's nature and landscapes should be like in 2025 is set out in Natural Heritage Futures. These documents set out common goals, objectives and actions to help deliver this vision. We encourage all sectors, including planners and developers, to work together to achieve these goals.

The Planning and Development section of the website provides information about:

• our role in the planning system and how we can help planners and developers;
• our role in environmental assessment;
• how we can help progress a development proposal quickly;
• advice and guidance on the impacts of development on Scotland's nature and landscapes, including biodiversity, landscapes, protected areas, protected animals, birds and outdoor access.

Renewable energy developments are vital if Scotland is to achieve its climate change and carbon reduction targets. Our renewable energy developments section provides advice and guidance about all types of renewable energy: offshore and onshore wind energy; marine and tidal; bioenergy; hydro and micro-renewables.

We also run Sharing Good Practice events and an increasing number of these are targeted at planners and developers.