Invitation to prepare a Local Place Plan
In accordance with Section 15A of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 as amended by the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019, community bodies in North Ayrshire are invited to prepare a local place plan.
Local Place Plans should be prepared in accordance with schedule 19 of the Act.
In order to be taken into account in the preparation of North Ayrshire’s third local development plan, Local Place Plans should be submitted by email to ldp@north-ayrshire.gov.uk by Sunday 30 June 2024.
Community bodies intending to prepare a local place plan are invited to submit a ‘notice of intention to prepare a local place plan’ by completing a notice of intention online form.
A Handbook setting out local guidance and the support available to local communities to prepare local place plans will be shared with bodies expressing their intention to prepare a local place plan.
Dated: Friday 19 May 2023
New planning legislation introduces a right for communities to produce their own plans, known as Local Place Plans. This provides the opportunity for communities to feed into the planning system with ideas and proposals for the development and use of land and buildings.
These community-led plans will set out the aspirations of people for the place they live in and suggest solutions, including to big challenges like the global climate emergency and tackling inequalities.
Once submitted to the council and registered, we must take account of a Local Place Plan in the preparation of the Local Development Plan.
Register of Local Place Plans
West Kilbride, Seamill and Portencross
Local Place Plan for West Kilbride, Seamill and Portencross submitted by West Kilbride Community Council - Registered 24 January 2024:
Map of Registered Local Place Plans
The Local Place Plan Register, map and registered Local Place Plans are available for public inspection at Cunninghame House, Irvine, KA12 8EE. Please email the Strategic Planning Team in advance to arrange an appointment to view.
What are Local Place Plans?
Local Place Plans are community-led plans setting out proposals for the development and use of land.
Examples of the issues that Local Place Plans might cover include:
- proposals for new homes, including affordable homes, local employment or community facilities
- proposals which support climate change mitigation and adaption, such as renewable energy, flood risk management and tree planting
- initiatives for active travel and community growing
- improvements to town, village and neighbourhood centres
- improvements to open space provision and quality, play and community facilities
- the conservation of local wildlife or built environment
A local place plan may also identify land and buildings that the community body considers to be of particular significance to the local area.
Preparing a Local Place Plan
Local Place Plans must be prepared by, or on behalf of, a Community Council or a ‘community-controlled body’, as defined by the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015. If you are unsure, we can help to advise what qualifies under these definitions. Preparing a Local Plan should be collaborative, involving as many people and organisations as possible with an interest in a place, and community-led.
The Planning Act and Local Place Plan Regulations require certain steps to be taken in preparing a Local Place Plan. These are summarised in the Circular and include:
- setting out any reasons for considering that the Local Development Plan should be amended
- a statement on the consultation carried out on the Local Place Plan
Please see the Draft How to Guide from Scottish Government.
What area should a Local Place Plan cover?
It is up to the community to define the area. Local Place Plans may be prepared for a locality, town, community council area, or a neighbourhood within a town.
Does a community need to do a Local Place Plan?
No, there will be other opportunities for individuals and communities to have input into the preparation of the Local Development Plan. We are happy to discuss the best way for your community body to be involved in the process.
We will take into account other plans such as Local Island Plans and Local Place Frameworks that cover the same themes as a Local Place Plan.
More guidance
- Planning circular 1/2022: Local Place Plans – Scottish Government guidance on the preparation, submission and registration of Local Place Plans - useful in interpreting legislation and regulations
- The Planning (Scotland) Act 2019
- The Town and Country Planning (Local Place Plans) Scotland Regulations 2022
- Local Place Plans Draft ‘How to’ Guide – please note, this draft guide pre-dates the Local Place Plan Regulations and Guidance
- Our Place – Local Place Plans – developed by the Scottish Government and partner organisations to support collaborative place-based working
- PAS is a charity which helps people and communities shape the future of their place and engage with the planning system in an open and inclusive way. They can provide advice, training and support, including for community organisations to develop and deliver their own aspirations for place through local place plans and other community-led plans
- Community Map Scotland - a mapping tool enabling Community Councils and other community groups to map what is important to them and use these insights to inform a Local Place Plan. A useful tool for engagement and highlighting areas of interest or concern. Community Councils can sign up to be part of the Community Map Scotland project, with 12 months free access
If you are a Community Council, or community body, interested in preparing a Local Place Plan, or you have any questions please get in touch: