Local Development Plan 3 (LDP3)

A local development plan (LDP) is a long-term plan that describes where and how development - for example new houses - should and should not take place. LDPs are important documents setting out how the places people live, work in and visit will change in the future.

We are preparing a new Local Development Plan - LDP3 - for the North Ayrshire Council area. Find information on our Local Development Plan hub.

Evidence report

The Evidence Report brings together data and engagement outputs and is the first stage in the preparation of North Ayrshire's third Local Development Plan (LDP).

The report was approved by the Local Development Plan Committee on 9 December 2025. It was submitted to Scottish Ministers on 20 January 2026. Scottish Ministers appointed a Reporter on 24 February 2026 to carry out a 'Gate Check' of the Evidence Report to assess whether it contains sufficient information to enable the planning authority to prepare a Local Development Plan.

For updates on the Gate Check, visit the Scottish Government Planning and Environmental Appeals Division Case.

Development Plan Scheme

In November 2024, the planning committee adopted our latest Development Plan Scheme. This sets out our programme for preparing our next Local Development Plan (LDP3) and when, how and with whom consultation will take place. This is known as a Participation Statement.

An updated Development Plan Scheme will be published following the conclusion of the Evidence Report Gate Check.

Call for ideas

Individuals, community bodies, organisations, landowners and developers were invited to submit their ideas for what should be included in our third Local Development Plan (LDP3).

This included ideas:

• for a new use for sites or buildings
• relating to policies to be included in LDP3 and applied to the assessment of future planning applications
• relating to any other aspect of the new local development plan

We are now in the process of reviewing the submitted ideas. Sites put forward for development will be assessed in line with our Draft site appraisal methodology document.

Assessments

The following assessments have been undertaken to support the preparation of North Ayrshire’s Third Local Development Plan:

• Play sufficiency assessment document

Mailing list

For updates on the development plan for North Ayrshire, including the preparation of LDP3 and consultation events, complete an update request form.