A proposed planning revamp for Scotland has been unveiled by Planning Minister Derek Mackay.

As part of the reforms, the National Planning Framework and Scottish Planning Policy pledged to revive Scotland's town centres.

It also revealed wind farms could be outlawed in the country's national parks and designated scenic areas.

Mr Mackay has proposed to locate turbines further away from cities, towns and villages.

The changes to the draft plans would affect a number of sectors over the next three decades and include infrastructure, energy and transport.

Mackay said he now wanted to hear from the public about the planning revamp.

Within the plans, ministers have set out their priorities on where important developments should take place. One example, is they want to see carbon capture and storage schemes built in Peterhead and Grangemouth. While there are also hopes to develop the aerospace sector at Prestwick Airport and its adjacent enterprise area.


Mr Mackay said: "Scotland needs a planning system that has, at its heart, the overriding principle of delivering sustainable economic growth in order to maximise the country's attraction to investors and visitors in a global economy.

"We want future planning decisions to give significant weight to the economic benefit of proposed developments, particularly the creation of new jobs."

There are 14 proposed national developments in total. They are:

• Onshore infrastructure for offshore renewable energy



• Grid infrastructure enhancements



• Baseload capacity at existing sites: Longannet and Cockenzie



• Carbon capture and storage at Grangemouth and Peterhead



• National cycling and walking network



• Metropolitan Glasgow strategic drainage plan



• Central Scotland green network



• Dundee Waterfront



• Ravenscraig



• Aberdeen Harbour



• Grangemouth investment zone



• Freight capacity on the Forth



• High speed rail



• Airport enhancements at Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness and Prestwick

(JP/CD)