Community Engagement in Local Development Planning.

A consultation has been launched that will allow planning authorities and communities to share views on the local development planning process as part of the Scottish Governments reform of the planning system. 

The consultation is about guidance on effective community engagement in the local development planning process and is for planning authorities and communities. It supports the local development planning approach of the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019, associated new regulations and guidance.

The Scottish Government provided an outline of the approach to the guidance to a working group of relevant stakeholders and Heads of Planning Scotland (HoPS) in 2022. A range of comments were provided including on scope, clarity, audience, expectations, legal requirements, the spectrum of participation, ownership, and proportionality. These views have informed this draft guidance for further consultation.

Once finalised, the guidance will set out the Scottish Government’s high-level expectations on how planning authorities can comply with their legal duties to engage with the public when preparing their local development plans.

A Respondent Information form is also required when return a response to the consultation. 

The consultation closes on 13 September 2023. For full details and to access the consulatation click here