FAQs
What is Development Planning?
The planning system in Scotland is plan-led. Development planning is required 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 where development should and shouldn't happen; this therefore guides decisions on applications for planning permission. The statutory 'development plan' comprises the National Planning Framework (NPF) which covers all of the country, and the local development plan (LDP) for each planning authority area.
What is a Local Development Plan?
Planning authorities must prepare a Local Development Plan (LDP) for their area. This shows how local places will change into the future, including where development should and should not happen.
As the NPF4 contains national planning policy, 'new-style' LDPs like LDP3 will be place-based documents with emphasis on maps, site briefs and masterplans, with minimal policy wording.
The Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997, as amended by the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019 provides the framework for LDPs and includes detail on many of the procedures to be followed in preparing plans.
What is National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4)?
NPF4 is the national spatial strategy for Scotland. It was adopted by Scottish Ministers in February 2023 and sets out spatial principles, regional priorities, national developments and national planning policy.
What are Regional Spatial Strategies?
The Planning (Scotland) Act 2019 introduces a duty for all planning authorities, either acting individually or together as a regional grouping, to prepare a Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS). This is a long-term spatial strategy for the strategic development of an area. RSS are not part of the statutory development plan, but have an important role to play in informing future versions of the NPF and LDPs.
East Ayrshire Council worked in partnership with North Ayrshire Council and South Ayrshire Council to publish a joint Indicative Spatial Strategy (IRSS) for Ayrshire. Further work is required to agree formal working arrangements between the authorities on how an Ayrshire Regional Spatial Strategy might be prepared.