The INSPIRE Directive (2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and in force from the 15th May 2007) establishes an infrastructure for spatial information in the European Community. By facilitating the availability and access of spatial (geographic) information, best use can be made of the data for the benefit of a wide variety of users in different sectors and disciplines. Planning and development in Scotland bring together such a broad mix of users of spatial data. Therefore, the INSPIRE Directive has a key role to play in promoting improvements to spatial data infrastructures on which the efficiency and effectiveness of the planning process and successful and sustainable development depend. As a result, the Scottish economy will benefit, especially within the construction sector (which accounted for 6.6% of GDP in 2004, with a £12 billion turnover (www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/12/19143801/0)), as will society as a whole
