Applications under sections 36 and 37 of the Electricity Act 1989
On 30 January 2026, the Minister for Public Finance published a letter to industry and planning authorities setting out new processes around objections to applications for energy consent following the introduction of the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025.
The letter can be read here.
National Planning Framework 4 policy overviews
The Scottish Government has published three blogs with overviews of advice and guidance available for each of the 33 policies in National Planning Framework 4.
The blogs are available here.
Publications declutter
The Scottish Government has also withdrawn 27 Planning Advice Notes and 19 other pieces of guidance in order to meet a commitment to declutter the planning system.
More information can be found here.
Planning obligations and good neighbour agreements
The Scottish Government issued guidance on 12 December 2025 on the use of planning obligations under section 75 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 and good neighbour agreements under section 75D.
The Circular can be read here.
