A revised planning policy intended to bring land for housing forward more effectively in future was published by the Scottish Government today.

The new version of the 2003 Scottish Planning Policy 3 (SPP3), is designed, following a consultation, to further modernise the planning system and help the housing industry reach the national goal of increasing the housing supply to 35,000 a year in Scotland by the middle of the next decade.

Commenting on the updated policy Planning Minister Stewart Stevenson said: "The publication of SPP3 reinforces and strengthens the Scottish Government's policy on delivery of new housing. By better integrating the identification of housing requirements and local housing strategies with development plans we will ensure that sufficient land is brought forward to enable provision of new housing of the right kind, of the right numbers, in the right places.

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"SPP3 will make it easier for local authorities to make sure that they always have a five-year supply of effective land for housing, and enables them to bring forward more land for housing if it is required, for example, if some of the identified land becomes constrained.

"Crucially, SPP3 also sets out that developers and planning authorities work together to help provide high quality well designed homes in sustainable locations across Scotland that will bring essential benefits to communities."

(GK/JM)