Tag: Scottish Government

City Plan 2040: Evidence Report Update

On 1 October, City of Edinburgh Council received the great news that its Evidence Report successfully passed the Gate Check.

The Gate Check is a key step in the preparation of a new local development plan. It is when the Scottish Government’s Planning and Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA) tests whether a local authority’s Evidence Report has sufficient and accurate information to go on and prepare a Proposed Plan.

For us, the Evidence Report was a huge piece of work that spanned many topics and places, required input across Council services and external partners and involved a huge amount of engagement.

The DPEA highlighted that the Evidence Report was comprehensive, involved extensive engagement and a clear grasp of key matters.

People viewing City Plan 2040 consultation boards in a community hall.

Following this positive decision, we will be preparing our next Development Plan Scheme which will set out the timetable for preparing the Proposed Plan and the next opportunities to engage in the process.

Changes to Planning Fees – 1 April 2026

Aerial view of New Town and Princes Street gardens on a sunny day. Edinburgh Castle sits to the top left.

Today Planning fees increased nationally. To reflect these changes, we have updated our Fees Charter. All planning applications received from today onwards will be charged the new fees.

Since 2025, fees have also been charged for local reviews and appeals against planning decisions. 

Most planning fees are set by the Scottish Government. The relevant legislation is;

  • the Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications) (Scotland) Regulations 2022 as amended (‘the Application Fees Regulations’)
  • the Town and Country Planning (Fees for Appeals) (Scotland) Regulations 2025 as amended (‘the Appeal Fees Regulations’)
  • the Town and Country Planning (Fees for Local Reviews) (Scotland) Regulations 2025 as amended (‘the Local Review Fees Regulations’).All of which came into effect on 1 April 2026

Further guidance is available in Scottish Government Planning Circular 1/2026

Also on 1 April, some other fees related to Planning & Building Standards are changing, including;

Please refer to planning validation guidelines for information about what to include as part of your submission.

City Plan 2030: Intention to Adopt

City Plan 2030 has reached another key milestone in its journey to adoption.

At the meeting of Planning Committee on 19 June 2024 and full Council on 27 June 2024, the Council resolved to adopt City Plan 2030 (as modified).

Following publication of the Scottish Government report of examination on 5 April 2024, the Council has accepted all recommendations and have prepared a modified City Plan 2030 accordingly.

Getting to this stage is a significant achievement for Planning and for all those who contributed. Please note, it is not yet adopted – just intention to adopt.

We have now notified Scottish Ministers of the intention to adopt City Plan 2030 (as modified). The plan can be formally adopted 28 days after notification of the intention to adopt, unless Scottish Ministers direct otherwise. Scottish Ministers may extend the period, direct the Council to consider further modifications to the plan, direct the Council not to adopt the plan or approve the plan themselves. There is no opportunity for any other parties to engage in the process at this stage.

You can view City Plan 2030 (as modified) online.

Printed copies of City Plan 2030 (as modified) and list of the modifications will be available in all Council libraries and Reception, City Chambers, 253 High Street, Edinburgh.

We will keep you updated as to when the plan is adopted.

National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) adopted today by Scottish Ministers

Covers of Edinburgh LDP & NPF4 shown together in a circle. From today, they make up the Council’s development plan.

The National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) was adopted today by Scottish Ministers and becomes a key factor in determining planning applications and appeals in Edinburgh.  

NPF4 is now 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:

This means that from today, 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 means that some Local Development Plan policies will no longer be used to the same extent.

A report to Planning Committee 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

View our Approved Policy Framework Quick Guide (PDF)

View our Policy Framework (PDF)

National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4)

Covers of LDP & NPF4, shown together in a circle. After Feb 13, they together make up Edinburgh's new Development Plan.

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

View our Approved Policy Framework Quick Guide (PDF)

View our Policy Framework (PDF)