The National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) was approved by the Scottish Parliament on 11 January 2023. It is expected that it will be adopted on 13 February 2023 at 9am.
Once adopted, NPF4 will become part of the Council’s development plan and – unless material considerations indicate otherwise – decisions on planning applications will need to be made in accordance with both:
When NPF4 is adopted, the section of the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019 that sets out what happens when there is ‘any incompatibility’ between parts of a development plan will also come into force.
This is likely to mean that some Local Development Plan policies will no longer be used to the same extent.
A report to Planning Committee (PDF) on 18 January 2023 explains this in more detail and provides a list containing:
NPF4 policies
Local Development Plan policies which are compatible with NPF4
Local Development Plan policies which are not compatible with NPF4 and will not be used to the same extent
It’s the time of year those with gardens may be considering some work to their trees.
As many of the trees in the city are protected by either being within a conservation area or by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) permission is required to do work to these trees.
Our online map of conservation areas and TPOs makes it easy for you to find out if trees are protected.
We also have guidance on looking after these protected trees and how to apply for permission.
As we get large numbers of applications for works to trees, please make sure you include:
The correct address i.e. where the tree is located
A location plan if the site does not have a postal address
A site plan clearly showing the location of the tree(s) and any other useful information
Photographs of the tree(s) and the surrounding context
Our webpage also contains information about trees on Council land, reporting overhanging foliage and issues with high hedges.
Proposed Development and Trees: tree survey
If you are undertaking development which requires planning permission, you need to look at what trees there are in your site and also next door to it. Proposals should not have a damaging impact on someone else’s trees.
Your planning application should include a tree survey of the trees within your site and those adjacent to it. The information required with applications is explained in the Edinburgh Design Guidance and Guidance for Householders
The tree survey will help us assess the quality of the tree(s) and their suitability for retention as part of the proposals. If we don’t get this information at the start, then it may delay the assessment of your planning application.
Sycamore tree – historically known in Scotland as ‘Plane’, ‘Great Plane’ and ‘Scot’s Plane’.
In 2021, Scottish Government legislation allowed councils to have a short-term let control area. In a control area, this means if that if a flat or a house, which is not the home you live in, is used for a short-term let, you will need planning permission.
Edinburgh was the first council in Scotland to apply for a short-term control area, which has now been in place since 5 September 2022 and covers the whole of the Council’s area.
The amount of STL accommodation has grown significantly in the last ten years and Edinburgh is recognised as an area that has greater pressures than other parts of the country.
Planning applications for STLs be assessed against the Local Development Plan along with the updated guidance and any other relevant material considerations.
Your responses will shape the final version of the guidance which we aim to have in place in early 2023.
Changes are coming to the way pre-application consultation with local communities takes place.
All applications for national or major development must comply with the Pre-Application Consultation (PAC) process. Where pre-application consultation is required, applicants must submit a Proposal of Application Notice (PAN) at least 12 weeks prior to the submission of the planning application.
At the second event the application will provide feedback on comments received regarding the proposed development. Both of these exhibition/events must be press advertised.
The changes also introduce a time limit of 18 months within which an application must be submitted.
Notices submitted prior to 1 October will not be required to hold two events but will be subject to the 18 month time limit, starting from 1 October.
Since the first outbreak of Covid in March 2020, all events have been taking place online. For notices received after 1 October, all events must now be in person. It is still good practice however to provide online information for those not able to attend in person.
The Edinburgh Development Concordat promotes collaborative working between the developer, community councils and the Council. It is recommended that an engagement strategy is prepared which sets out how community feedback will be sought. This could include the use of:
Public meetings
Meetings with community councils
Exhibitions with developer staff on hand to answer questions
Social media to promote events
Bespoke websites for the development
Surveys – both online and in person
Posters in local libraries and other public places
Leaflets distributed to properties in the local area
Consultation should be a meaningful engagement with the community and should offer the opportunity to mitigate negative impacts and misunderstandings and deal with community issues that can be addressed.
The weekly list of planning applications will not be issued on the week beginning Monday 8 August and you will be unable to view and comment on applications.
Relevant applications will have additional time added for comments to be made to take account of the downtime.
A temporary webpage is now in place and has the planning documents for the Local Review Body and the Development Management Sub Committee, both on Wednesday 10 August;
During this time, you will be unable to view enforcement cases or the enforcement register. Enforcement enquires can still be made using the online form.
Planning and building warrant applications can continue to be submitted online through eDevelopment.
Planning Edinburgh 
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