An infrastructure-first approach to planning involves early engagement and collaboration between stakeholders to better inform land use and investment decisions.
It means having an evidence based understanding of potential impacts on infrastructure and infrastructure needs from early in the development planning process. The approach will provide clarity over infrastructure requirements and their planned delivery to meet the needs of communities and will ensure that infrastructure considerations are integral to planning decision making.
Development proposals will therefore be assessed against the following criteria:
- proposals which provide or contribute to infrastructure that is identified as necessary in the Local Development Plan and the Action Programme will be supported
- where a proposal creates an infrastructure need, it should demonstrate how account has been taken of the Scottish Government's Investment Hierarchy - Section 5.5.3, including the utilisation of existing infrastructure
- proposals should mitigate their impacts on infrastructure – development proposals will not be supported unless provision is made to mitigate those impacts