Who should the community contact for more help regarding Local Place Plans?
For all enquiries related to Local Place Plans please contact localplaceplans@argyll-bute.gov.uk
Is there support available from the Community Development Officers?
Yes, please get in touch with your local CDO to agree what level of support you think you might need and what the Community Development team can offer.鈥
| Area | Community Development Officer contact |
|---|---|
| Bute and Cowal | |
| Helensburgh and Lomond | david.hagerty@argyll-bute.gov.uk |
| Mid 海角社区, Kintyre and the Islands | antonia.baird@argyll-bute.gov.uk |
| Oban, Lorn and the Isles | kirsty.mcluckie@argyll-bute.gov.uk |
How is a Local Place Plan (LPP) taken into account during the preparation of the next Local Development Plan (LDP)?
Through the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997, Planning Authorities are required to take registered LPP鈥檚 into account in the preparation of Local Development Plans. In 海角社区 and Bute, the Council is the Planning Authority for the whole of the area excluding those parts that are within Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. The National Park Authority are the Planning Authority for the Park and produce their own LDP for the whole National Park area.*
The Council will include a list of registered LPPs in the LDP3 Evidence Report (the first stage of the LDP3 preparation process). The Evidence Report, following assessment by a Scottish Government appointed Reporter, will be used in the preparation of LDP3.
The Council is expected to be clear in its reasoning for supporting or not supporting elements of鈥疞PPs when it prepares LDP3. The proposed LDP3 will be subject to public consultation followed by examination by a Scottish Government appointed reporter.
at Annex B sets out more detail of the relationship of LPPs and LDPs and sets out Scottish Ministers expectations of Planning Authorities. Paragraphs 19-20 of Annex B relate to this relationship at the Evidence Report stage with paragraphs 21-28 relating to the Proposed Plan stage.
*Whilst planning legislation and guidance apply equally to the Council and the National Park Authority, those communities that fall within the National Park area should check with the National Park Authority with regards to their own Local Development Plan process.
Would a new LPP now be expected to accord with the current local development plan (LDP2)?
The legislation requires that in preparing a Local Place Plan, the community body has regard to the local development plan and set out any reasons for considering that the local development plan should be amended.
There is no requirement for the LPP to accord with the local development plan, as part of the purpose of producing an LPP is to consider the LDP and set out how it should be amended and why.
provides advice regarding how community bodies can comply with the requirement to 鈥榟ave regard鈥 to the local development plan (as well as the National Planning Framework and any relevant locality plans).
What is the status of a registered Local Place Plan in the determination of planning applications?
Planning legislation requires that decisions on planning applications be made in accordance with the Development Plan (currently adopted Local Development Plan 2 and National Planning Framework 4) unless material considerations indicate otherwise. A Local Place Plan may be taken into account as a material consideration. It would be for the decision maker for the planning application concerned at that point in time to determine whether the particular LPP would form a material consideration and if so, how much weight it should be given.
sets out that 鈥淐ommunity Bodies may wish to consider whether the proposals contained within the Local Place Plan may reasonably form a part of representations on individual planning applications.鈥
Should the community prepare the Local Place Plan itself, or should it employ a consultant?
There are advantages to each method. The 鈥榙o it yourself鈥 approach requires the time and resources to be available within the community body, but it allows them to get to know their community better and the body will already potentially know what the key issues are. However, while it will potentially cost more, a consultant can help with the workload, provide expertise and an independent view which can be especially beneficial if there are complex issues within the community.
A hybrid approach could also be an option with a consultant utilised for certain aspects of the process.
The decision remains with the community body as there is no legal requirement either way.
How can the community access funding for a consultant?
The Council鈥檚 Funding for Communities webpage contains a range of information on funding opportunities.
In addition, GrantNet is a free service, which can help identify potential funding sources.
Can the Council provide a list of consultants or recommend a consultant?
The Council should remain impartial and cannot provide lists or recommendations. The community body could consider reviewing other Local Place Plans that have been prepared by consultants and considering how the approach might work for themselves.
All Local Authorities and the National Park authorities are required to keep a register of validated Local Place Plans, and you can search for them there.
The Scottish Community Development Centre has a guide to developing a consultant鈥檚 brief which may be of assistance - .
Is there a requirement to carry out engagement when creating a Local Place Plan?
There is no legal requirement for a community body to engage with its wider community when preparing a Local Place Plan however there is a requirement that a statement is submitted alongside the LPP that sets out:
- the community body鈥檚 view of the level and nature of support for the local place plan
- the basis on which the community body has reached that view, including a description of any consultation by the community body in respect of the proposed local place plan
Therefore, engagement/consultation with the wider community will provide evidence that can be used within this statement.
There are also many benefits to engaging with the community such as understanding local views, gaining local knowledge and information, listening to different opinions and helping ensure that any plan represents the community as a whole.
It should also be remembered that there are certain requirements regarding notification of councillors and community councils that are set out in the .
How should the community be engaged through the Local Place Plan process?
There are a range of methods and tools a community body could use when engaging or consulting with their communities both digitally and in-person. The engagement methods chosen should look to reach as wide a range of voices across the community as possible. The Council鈥檚 Local Place Plan and Local Place Plan Training webpages have sources of information as well as a link to a recording of the 鈥淐ommunity Engagement for your Local Place Plan鈥 webinar.
Where can communities find out more information about using mapping within Local Place Plans?
The Council鈥檚 Local Place Plan Training webpage contains a range of helpful information on mapping as well as a link to view the Council's 鈥淢apping for Local Place Plans鈥 webinar.
To be validated you will need 2 maps 鈥 a map of the boundary of your LPP area and a map identifying all your proposals relating to land or buildings and any land or buildings you consider of significance to the local area.
There is no restriction on how you do this, except that you should be lawfully allowed to use and reproduce the map you choose. Maps should be in a format that is easily read by others, for example a PDF or a JPEG. You should submit the LPP including its maps as a dated document so that there is no potential for variance between the submitted document and any former versions placed on a consultation webpage or other resource in the public realm.
Community Councils can access Ordnance Survey (OS) location data and services when they register for the Public Sector Geospatial Agreement here: Register for the Public Sector Geospatial Agreement | The Public Sector Geospatial Agreement | OS - This license will let you use Community Map Scotland: Parish Online - Community Map Scotland.
Does the Council offer a pre-submission check prior to the community formally submitting an LPP for registration?
Unfortunately, the Council does not have the resource in place to check an LPP prior to submission. The legislation sets out the requirements for a Local Place Plan and further advice is given through Circular 1/2022: Local Place Plans with a section dedicated to submitting the LPP and advice on how to provide the evidence that it has complied with the legal requirements. In addition, the Council has produced a validation checklist to assist with ensuring all the required information is submitted, this can be found in the 'Guidance' section of the main Local Place Plan page.
What is the life span of a Local Place Plan?
The legislation does not specify a life span for a Local Place Plan or a time limit for how long one that has been validated will remain on the local authority register. A Local Place Plan can only be removed from the register if the community body that prepared it requests it to be removed or if that body submits a subsequent LPP which it states is to replace or supersede the existing one.
It is likely though that, in time, a Local Place Plan will be considered to be at the end of its lifespan. This may be if the content of the plan is becoming less relevant, if circumstances or wider policy have changed or if the plan has served its purpose to a suitable extent. It will be a matter for the community body to decide if, and when that time might be and what steps it wishes to take next. For example, it might request that the plan be removed from the register, or it might prepare a new or amended LPP to replace the existing one. Community bodies may wish to monitor the delivery of their LPPs and remain engaged with their communities to ascertain the continued relevance of their plan.
