The Development Department has been extremely active over the past couple of years in producing new NPPGs. Under the control of the Scottish Executive, however, it appears that an exercise is under way to review the existing guidelines. The draft of NPPG1 was published for comment. It may be that once the Development Department have an opportunity of considering the comments the draft will be significantly changed. However, it appears that there is a subtle but significant change of approach in relation to planning inherent in the draft.
Planning appears to be seen as rather more at tool than an aim in itself.
Paragraph 4 records the primary objective of the planning system. These objectives are not dissimilar to the objectives given in the previous version of NPPG1. In involving local communities, development interests, amenity organisations and others is essential to help shape sustainable Scotland. These words go beyond anything found in previous versions of NPPG1 and apparently reflect a different approach under the Scottish Executive. It may be that planning is going to be used as a means to achieve the agenda which the devolved government in Scotland has indicated on numerous occasions it intends to achieve.