Planning and architecture

Development plans

Development planning

The planning system in Scotland is plan-led. The purpose of planning is to manage the development and use of land in the long-term public interest. 

Development plans set out how places will change into the future, including the long term vision of where development should and shouldn’t happen. Development plans show where new homes and workplaces will be built, how services and facilities such as schools and travel will be provided, and identify the places and buildings we value and want to protect. 

Development plans guide decisions on applications for planning permission. Decisions on planning applications must be made in accordance with the development plan, unless there are material considerations that indicate otherwise. 

The development plan for any given area of Scotland consists of: 

  • the National Planning Framework (NPF4 was adopted in February 2023) 

  • the relevant local development plan (LDP). Scotland's 32 local authorities and the two national park authorities are designated planning authorities, and are required to prepare an LDP  

Guidance 

Local development planning guidance outlines the Scottish Ministers’ expectations for the preparation and delivery of LDPs. 

The three principal stages of local development planning are: 

Evidence gathering 

  • early engagement and data collection 

  • evidence report 

  • gate check 

Plan preparation 

  • proposed plan 

  • consultation 

  • examination 

Delivery 

  • adopted plan 

  • delivery programme 

  • monitoring and delivery 

LDPs should be place-based, people-centred and delivery-focused, as outlined in the Local Development Planning Guidance.  

Throughout the plan preparation process there are opportunities for the public to get involved and help shape their places. 

Planning authorities are required to prepare development plan schemes annually. They set out the planning authority’s programme for preparing and reviewing their LDP, including opportunities for the public to get involved. They can be found on planning authority websites. 

Legislation 

The following legislation prescribes the processes for development planning and related activities: 

Development plans correspondence

Documentation from Scottish Government relating to individual development plans across Scotland is available on our gov.scot site.

Planning authorities should send notifications and documents relating to plans and supplementary guidance that are required to be submitted to Scottish Ministers via our Development Plans Gateway: developmentplans@gov.scot

Contact

Email: chief.planner@gov.scot

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