Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee Letter to Local and National Park Authorities

Closed 11 Aug 2025

Opened 27 Jun 2025

Contact

Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee

localgov.committee@parliament.scot

Published responses

View submitted responses where consent has been given to publish the response.

Overview

Overview

The Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee is seeking information on Local Place Plans from Scotland’s 32 local authorities and two national park authorities.

This will help the Committee in its scrutiny of the National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4).
 

Background

The Committee is currently undertaking its second annual review of NPF4 to assess its impact and whether it is meeting its ambitions.

It previously invited key stakeholders to highlight issues arising in their engagement with the framework, receiving 42 responses to its call for views in February 2025.

After considering the responses, the Committee heared from the following witnesses:

  • on 3 June
    • Esme Clelland
      Senior Conservation Planner RSPB and Convener Link Planning Group
      Scottish Environment LINK
    • Hazel Johnson
      Director
      Built Environment Forum Scotland
    • Kevin Murphy
      Head of Planning
      Homes for Scotland
  • on 17 June
    • Neil Sutherland
      Founding Director
      MAKAR Limited
    • Dr Caroline Brown
      Director of Scotland and Ireland
      Royal Town Planning Institute
    • Pamela Clifford
      Chair
      Heads of Planning Scotland (HOPS)

    • Clare Symonds
      Chair
      Planning Democracy

  • on 24 June
    • Ivan McKee
      Minister for Public Finance
      Scottish Government
    • Cara Davidson
      Head of Environment and Net Zero
      Scottish Government
    • Andy Kinnaird
      Head of Transforming Planning
      Scottish Government
    • Fiona Simpson
      Chief Planner, Director of Planning, Architecture and Regeneration
      Scottish Government
    • Carrie Thomson
      Head of Development Planning & Housing
      Scottish Government

One of the key points raised by stakeholders in the call for views, and the witnesses at the evidence sessions, was the preparation, registration and the impact of Local Place Plans and their interaction with Local Development Plans.
 

Read more background information: Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee | Scottish Parliament Website

 

The Committee is now seeking further information from local authorities and national park authorities on Local Place Plans.

  1. How many Local Place Plans are listed in your authority’s register?
     
  2. Has your authority decided not to register any Local Place Plans submitted to it?
    1. If so, how many and why were these rejected?
  3. How many Local Place Plans, that your authority is aware of, are currently under development in its area?
     
  4. The names of any community council or community body in your area that has produced, is currently developing, or interested in preparing, a Local Place Plan?
     
  5. Planning law requires any planning authority drafting a Local Development Plan to “take into account” any registered Local Place Plan. How does your authority intend to ensure priorities identified in such plans are fully incorporated in Local Development Plan policies and spatial strategies?
     
  6. Is there any other information you would like to provide the committee on the interaction between NPF4, Local Development Plans and Local Place Plans in your area?

   

How to respond

Please provide your response by completing the submission form below by 11 August 2025.  
 

 

 

Interests

  • LGHP