Local Plans

Visit the Local Plan pages for each Area via the links below:

Other relevant information is available via the links below:

Supplementary Guidance - provide more detailed guidance for Local Plans, development control, developers and the public on the interpretation of specific policies contained in the Highland Structure Plan.
Development Plans Pricing - how to order a copy of a Development Plan.
Development Plan Register - details of Local Development Plans in force covering Highland and updates on progress of new Plans.
Development Plan Scheme - future Local Development Plans - content, when they will be produced and getting involved.
FAQs
Glossary - definitions of some of the terms used in the text of Local Plans.
Housing Land Audit
Representation and objections

Contacts

Email: planning@highland.gov.uk
Development Plans Team:
Telephone (01463) 702 506
Fax (01463) 702 298

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You can view the Local Plans covering Highland by clicking on the links in the Related Information section to the right.

The Policy and Information Section is responsible for the preparation and review of the Council’s Local Plans. It provides detailed policy advice to the Development & Building Control and Environment sections, as well as other Council Services. The Section is also responsible for preparing Non-statutory Development Briefs and Framework Plans to encourage and coordinate the development of specific sites. Officers also liaise closely with the Area Planning and Building Standards Managers on a day-to-day basis.

Introduction

The Structure Plan and the various Local Plans together make up the statutory Development Plan for the Highlands. Preparation of these Plans is a statutory requirement under the Part II of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997. These set out the Council’s policies and proposals spanning the next 5 - 20 years. The Structure Plan paints the broad picture on the future pattern of housing, jobs, transport, services and the environment. Local Plans are much more specific. They tackle the problems and opportunities associated with individual communities and show exactly where the Council’s policies apply.

Purpose

The purpose of a Local Plan is to:-

guide decisions made on planning applications to ensure that new developments are right for their location;
help plan for the integrated development needs of an area such as new homes, factories, shops and schools;
provide a consistent spatial framework within which both private and public sector investment decisions can be taken;
protect important natural and man-made heritage features; and, most importantly, allow local people to become involved in the planning process.

Planning legislation and National Planning Policy Guidelines have strengthened the role of Development Plans in recent years. Decisions on planning applications should be made in accordance with the provisions of the Development Plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise. This is intended to give greater certainty to residents, community groups, developers, business investors and infrastructure providers.

A Local Plan consists of a Written Statement and a Proposals Map. It covers a wide range of topics including:-

population;
housing;
industry and employment;
transport;
shopping and commerce;
community and recreation facilities;
utilities;
heritage; and
environmental matters.

The Written Statement contains policies, which guide or control development, and proposals, which promote development. It also contains site allocations, environmental safeguards, the phasing of proposals and the means of implementation. The Proposals Map and Insets show where the policies and proposals apply.

In addition to indicating the Council's own spending priorities, a Local Plan may include proposals identified by other Agencies and bodies expected to happen within the period of the Plan. However, any dates and costs shown against proposals are liable to change as programmes and the availability of resources are reviewed annually.

Procedures

Local Plans must follow a rigorous set of procedures laid down by Parliament. Before a Plan can become Council policy, it must go through several stages of preparation, taking full account of the views of the public, local business people, statutory bodies and other organisations. Each stage in the process is advertised in the local press and copies of the plan deposited in the local planning office, Council Service Point, library and post office.

Public involvement is a key issue. To this end, the Council has adopted a "Planning for Real" based approach which allows hands-on participation by all the residents of each local community. They help by identifying local issues and problems which the Plan can tackle; expressing their views on the Council’s policies; and suggesting how these could be improved.

Where an objection cannot be resolved, the Council will hold a Public Local Inquiry. This is presided over by an independent Reporter who will advise the Council what changes, if any, he thinks should be made to the Plan. The Council will then decide if the Plan should be modified. Only when the Plan has been through these procedures can it be formally adopted as Council policy.

Local Plans must be topical and relevant. The Council’s target is to ensure that they are reviewed on a 5 yearly cycle. Specific concerns can be tackled through non-statutory Framework Plans or a Development Brief. Where changes are more widespread than a specific site or cover a range of issues, the Council can make a formal Alteration to an existing Plan. This is similar to the production of a Local Plan, but normally follows a quicker procedure.

Plan Coverage

Every part of the Highlands is covered by a Local Plan. The Council keeps a Development Plan Register showing which Local Plans have been adopted or are currently being reviewed. Future Local Development Plan content, when they will be produced and how to get involved is detailed in the Development Plan Scheme.