National Planning Framework

Indicative Regional Spatial Strategy

To inform NPF4

Scottish Government invited Planning Authorities to prepare Indicative Regional Spatial Strategies (IRSS) to help inform the preparation of National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4).

Our initial submission

We took the lead role in preparing an IRSS for the Highland region, with contributions from partners.

The Highland IRSS sets out our ideas for how the region can grow and prosper in the period to 2050, whilst supporting the delivery of national priorities and outcomes.

As part of our early work on preparing the Highland IRSS and to help outline the importance of and the key issues affecting Highland, we prepared a film in summer 2020 to explain the engagement process we were following, ongoing work at that time and what we were seeking to achieve.

The initial version of the Highland IRSS was submitted to Scottish Government in Autumn 2020, as part of our contribution to NPF4 engagement.

Our refined submission

Scottish Government provided the opportunity for Planning Authorities to refine their IRSS during early 2021.

We submitted a refined Highland IRSS in April 2021, incorporating a refined version of the Council’s candidate National Developments.

VIEW THE HIGHLAND INDICATIVE REGIONAL SPATIAL STRATEGY STORYMAP

READ THE REFINED HIGHLAND INDICATIVE REGIONAL SPATIAL STRATEGY

Update to Regional Spatial Strategy

As part of the requirements of NPF4, we will be formalising and updating our IRSS to produce our Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS).

Our Development Plans Newsletter includes information on our work programme for the delivery of our RSS.