United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

193 countries around the world have signed up and committed to delivering 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Each goal has defined targets and indicators to measure progress.

In terms of urban trees and greenspaces, the following is particularly relevant:

• SDG 11 | Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

• Target 11.7 | By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities.

• Indicator 11.7.1 : Average share of the built-up area of cities that is open space for public use for all, by sex, age and persons with disabilities

• Indicator 11.7.2 | Proportion of persons victim of non-sexual or sexual harassment, by sex, age, disability status and place of occurrence, in the previous 12 months.

The overall performance of each UN member state in meeting SDG can be viewed here.

PLANNING

Key to national planning in Scotland is the National Performance Framework and the National Planning Framework (NPF4).

National Performance Framework

The National Performance Framework sets out a vision for collective wellbeing in Scotland comprised of several ‘National Outcomes’ closely aligned with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The ‘Communities’ National Outcome describes a Scotland in which people live in communities that are inclusive, empowered and safe. Progress is measured through several indicators, one of which is ‘Access to green and blue space’. Specifically, this measure is the proportion of adults who live within a 5 minute walk of their local green or blue space. Data for this measure is collected through an annual Scottish Household Survey.

National Planning Framework (NPF4)

NPF4 sets out the Scottish governments planning policy for supporting the planning and delivery of ‘sustainable’, ‘liveable’ and ‘productive’ spaces (p.4, NPF4).

Some key elements of NPF4 include:

1) Spatial principles.

Six spatial principles guide plans and decisions under NPF4, two of which make direct reference to greenspace and green infrastructure (Local living and compact urban growth).

2) Regional Spatial Strategies

RSS may be comprised by one or more planning authorities. They reflect the shared partnerships and opportunities that exist across a wider geographic area and are intended to shape future versions of the National Planning Framework and local authority Local Development Plans.

3) National Developments

National Developments are a mix of individual and collaborative projects intended to showcase NPF4 planning and delivery. Projects which are relevant in terms of urban trees and greenspace management include:

• Central Scotland Green Network (Liveable Places)

• National Walking, Cycling and Wheeling Network (Liveable places)

• Edinburgh waterfront (Liveable places)

• Dundee waterfront (Liveable places)

• Stranraer Gateway (Liveable places)

4) Policies

NFP4 contains 33 interrelated planning policies. Those that reference greenspace directly include:

‘Sustainable Places’

• Policy 1: Tackling the climate and nature crises

• Policy 2: Climate mitigation and adaptation

• Policy 3: Biodiversity

• Policy 4: Natural places

• Policy 6; Forestry, woodland and trees

• Policy 7: Historic assets and places

• Policy 8: Greenbelts

• Policy 9: Brownfield, vacant and derelict land and empty buildings

• Policy 13: Sustainable transport

‘Liveable places’

• Policy 14: Design, quality and place (inc. Annex D ‘Six Qualities of Successful Places’)

• Policy 15: Local Living and 20 minute neighbourhoods

• Policy 20: Blue and green infrastructure

• Policy 21 Play, recreation and sport

• Policy 22: Flood risk and water management

• Policy 23: Health and safety

‘Productive places’

• No direct reference is made to urban trees and greenspaces in this policies section, however, frequent reference is made to consideration of ‘amenity value’.

• Policy 31: Culture and creativity (‘open spaces’)

NPF4 also links to other government strategies, plans and programmes. A summary of these links can be viewed here.

• Scottish Government
  Forestry Strategy 2019-2029 (Priorities for action pp.31,34,35)

• Scottish Government
  Scotland’s Third Land Use Strategy 2021-26

• NatureScot
  Scotland's Biodiversity Strategy

• Scottish Government
  The Environment Strategy for Scotland

Policies

• Scottish Government
  Policy on Control of Woodland Removal

• NFP4 contains provisions for Regional Spatial Strategies (RSS).

• RSS may be comprised by one or more planning authorities and reflect the shared partnerships and opportunities that exist across a wider geographic area. RSS are not a statutory requirement (yet) and are intended to shape future versions of the National Planning Framework and local authority Local Development Plans.

• Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA)

Local Development Plans (LDPs) are prepared by planning authorities (e.g. councils) which show how local places will change into the future, including where development should and should not happen. LDPs must implement National Planning (NPF4) policies. In terms of urban woodlands and greenspaces this includes production of:

• A forestry and woodland strategy (Policy 6) that enhances, expands and improves woodland and tree cover.

• An Open Space Strategy that informs protection of blue and green infrastructure from fragmentation or net loss.

• Play Sufficiency Assessment (may be part of the Open Space Strategy) that informs the enhancing and expansion of blue and green infrastructure, including the incorporation of trees and /or other form of greenery.

General considerations include:

Strengthening nature networks and integrating nature-based solutions (Policy 3), protecting soils from compaction (Policy 5); transport proposals incorporate blue and green infrastructure and nature rich habitats (Policy 13).

• Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997
  Section 159 Planning permission to include appropriate provision for preservation and planting of trees
  Section 160 Power to make tree preservation orders
  Section G3 Open space strategy
  Section 4ZA Regional Spatial Strategies

• Planning (Scotland) Act 2019
  Section 3 Open space strategy
  Section 53 Forestry and Woodland Strategy